Meghan's desperate attempts to rebrand herself as some kind of lifestyle guru while her finances apparently crumble around her is something else entirely. I'm absolutely gobsmacked by the sheer incompetence we're witnessing. And according to experts, I'm not alone in my assessment.
Our favorite spotlight-hungry former royal has apparently been making what PR expert Eric Schiffer calls "bonehead business moves." I couldn't agree more. The woman who once told us she was ready to "hit the ground running" in royal life can't seem to run a business without tripping over her own feet.
First, we had the American Riviera Orchard launch. Remember that blurry Instagram video with the fancy music and Meghan playing dress-up in her kitchen? The one where she sent jams to her celebrity friends, who dutifully posted about them? Well, apparently, that whole brand is now being rebranded as... As Ever. As Ever? What, as ever desperate for attention? As ever making poor business decisions? I'm genuinely curious.
Look, I'm not a business expert by any means, but even I know that launching a brand, building anticipation, and then completely changing the name before you've even properly launched any products is... well, it's bizarre. Can you imagine Catherine doing something so ridiculous? Of course not. The Princess of Wales approaches everything she does with careful consideration and class.
Eric Schiffer didn't mince words in his interview with The Mirror US, calling Meghan's business moves "reckless" and saying her judgment seems to be "missing." Now, I don't know about you, but when a PR expert uses phrases like "borderline illiterate entrepreneurism," that's not exactly a glowing endorsement. He even predicted a "horrific future" for her brand, describing it as a "desperate search for relevance." Ouch. But is he wrong? I don't think so.
This is coming from someone who has squandered the platform of a lifetime. Remember when Harry and Meghan had the world at their feet? They could have done so much good as working royals with the full support of the institution behind them. Instead, they chose to throw it all away for what? Netflix deals that underperform? Spotify partnerships that fizzle out? Jam that nobody can buy?
And speaking of those deals, let's talk about their financial situation for a moment. There have been persistent rumors that the Montecito mansion might be getting a bit too expensive to maintain. Those 16 bathrooms don't clean themselves, you know. And with reports that Netflix might not be rushing to renew their deal after lackluster content, one has to wonder if the money is starting to dry up.
Now, I know some of Meghan's defenders will say I'm being too harsh. "Give her a chance," they'll say. "She's learning." But here's the thing: this is a woman who has consistently presented herself as exceptional, as uniquely qualified, as someone who knows better than an institution that's survived for over a thousand years. So, forgive me if I find it a bit rich that we're now supposed to lower our expectations and applaud her for failing at basic business principles.
I've got friends who run small businesses from their kitchen tables who would never dream of making such fundamental errors. They research their market, they stick with their branding, they build slowly and carefully. But then again, they're not former royals with an inflated sense of their own importance and an apparent need for immediate gratification and public adoration.
Let's contrast this with how William and Catherine approach their work. They're methodical, they're consistent, they build initiatives like Shaping Us or Earthshot with careful planning and follow-through. They don't chase quick headlines or abandon projects when they don't get immediate attention. They're in it for the long haul because they understand what service really means.
I sometimes wonder if Meghan ever truly grasped what being a royal was about. It's not about being the star of the show. It's not about having your name in lights. It's about putting the causes you champion ahead of yourself. It's about consistency and dedication, even when the cameras aren't rolling. William and Catherine understand this inherently. Queen Camilla has embraced this role beautifully. King Charles has been preparing for this his entire life.
But Harry and Meghan? They wanted the prestige without the service. They wanted the platform without the responsibility. And now, they're learning the hard way that building something of value takes more than just a fancy Instagram video and celebrity connections.
Do you know what really gets me? The waste of potential. Harry was once the most popular royal alongside his brother. People adored him. He had this authentic connection with people from all walks of life. And now? He follows Meghan from one failed project to another, looking increasingly lost and disconnected from the life and family he once knew. I genuinely feel sad for him sometimes.
Can you imagine abandoning your family, your country, your life's work, only to end up as a prop in your wife's latest vanity project? It breaks my heart. It really does. The man who founded the Invictus Games—something truly meaningful and impactful—reduced to awkward cameos in Netflix documentaries.
And what about their children? Archie and Lilibet deserve stability and a sense of belonging. Instead, they're growing up in this bizarre bubble, disconnected from their royal heritage, used as bargaining chips in their parents' ongoing PR war against the monarchy. It's not fair to them, and it makes me genuinely concerned for their future.
Now, back to this financial situation. Eric Schiffer's assessment that Meghan is becoming "borderline illiterate with money" is particularly damning. This isn't just about one failed business venture. It speaks to a pattern of poor decision-making that extends across their post-royal life.
They left the royal family supposedly for privacy, then proceeded to share their most intimate thoughts and grievances with Oprah, Netflix, and anyone else who would listen. They claimed to want financial independence, yet seem to rely entirely on trading on their royal connections to secure deals. They talk about compassion and kindness while continuing to throw Harry's family under the bus at every opportunity.
Is it any wonder that their brand value seems to be diminishing? The novelty has worn off. The public has grown weary of their complaints. And now, as Schiffer points out, Meghan can't even get out of the blocks without stumbling when it comes to launching her own independent business ventures.
What's particularly telling is Schiffer's comment about Meghan's ability to get "product-market fit," which she has consistently struggled with. This isn't just misinformed criticism; it's a legitimate business assessment. If you look at their track record objectively, there's a pattern of grand announcements followed by underwhelming delivery.
Remember Archewell, the big foundation that was going to change the world? What exactly has it accomplished? The Spotify podcast that was supposed to revolutionize the medium? Dropped after one season. The much-hyped Netflix documentaries? Mixed reviews at best. And now, this lifestyle brand that can't even settle on a name before launch.
I'm not saying this to be cruel. I'm saying it because it's important to see the reality behind the carefully crafted PR. The emperor—or in this case, the duchess—has no clothes. And pretending otherwise doesn't help anyone, least of all Harry and Meghan themselves.
But you know what's really revealing about all this? The contrast in how the working royals handle criticism versus how Harry and Meghan do. When Catherine faces criticism, she doesn't lash out or play the victim. She keeps her head down, continues with her work, and lets her actions speak for themselves. When William encounters negative press, he doesn't immediately call Oprah. He addresses legitimate concerns appropriately and moves forward with his duties.
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan seem to view any criticism—however valid—as evidence of persecution. They can't seem to distinguish between genuine critique and the unfounded attacks they claim to be victims of. And that's a problem when you're trying to build a business. Because successful entrepreneurs need to be able to respond constructively to feedback.
Schiffer's comment that Meghan is "out-of-touch celebrity elite" really hits the nail on the head. There's something profoundly disconnected about launching luxury lifestyle brands during a cost-of-living crisis, especially when your brand seems built on nothing more substantial than your own celebrity.
Catherine's initiatives focus on early childhood development and mental health. Meghan's focus? Meghan.
And that brings me to what I think is the core issue here: authenticity. William and Catherine feel authentic. Their passion for their causes shines through. King Charles has been talking about environmental issues for decades—long before it was fashionable. Their commitment feels genuine.
In contrast, Harry and Meghan's ventures often feel calculated and commercial. Their causes seem chosen for maximum publicity rather than genuine passion. And consumers can sense that. It's no wonder Schiffer questions Meghan's appeal in the UK and other markets. People can spot insincerity a mile away.
I've talked to so many of you in the comments who used to be fans of Harry and Meghan but have grown disillusioned over time. It's not because you're haters or trolls or whatever other dismissive labels they might use. It's because you've watched their actions and found them wanting. You've seen the contradictions and the hypocrisy, and you've made up your own minds.
And that's what makes this community so special. We're not blindly anti-Meghan. We're pro-truth. We call it as we see it. And what we're seeing right now is a business strategy that makes no sense, executed by someone who seems to have a vastly inflated sense of her own business acumen.
Let's circle back to this rebranding disaster. Changing your brand name before you've even properly launched? That's Marketing 101-level stuff. Most entrepreneurs would know better. Most would have done proper market research, tested their concept, and committed to a direction before going public. But that would require patience and humility—two qualities that seem in short supply in the Sussex household.
I'm genuinely curious about what happened behind the scenes here. Was there a trademark issue with American Riviera Orchard? Did focus groups hate the name? Or is this just another example of the impulsive decision-making that seems to characterize their post-royal careers?
Whatever the reason, it doesn't inspire confidence. And confidence is exactly what investors and potential business partners look for. If you can't commit to something as fundamental as your brand name, why would anyone trust you with their money or their business?
This is especially relevant given the rumors about their financial situation. Running a household like theirs in Montecito isn't cheap. Security alone must cost a fortune. And if the big media deals aren't being renewed... well, you can see why launching a successful lifestyle brand might suddenly seem urgent.
But here's the thing about building a successful brand: it takes time. It takes consistency. It takes delivering real value to customers. You can't just trade on your name and expect people to throw money at you indefinitely. At some point, you need to produce something of substance.
Look at Catherine's sister, Pippa, who built a respectable career in event planning and writing without constantly trading on her royal connections. Or Princess Anne's daughter, Zara Tindall, who became an accomplished equestrian in her own right. They understood that true success comes from developing your own skills and identity—not just leveraging your family connections.
I wonder if Meghan ever considered that approach. Building something genuinely her own, based on her actual skills and interests, rather than constantly positioning herself in opposition to the royal family. Imagine if she'd channeled her energy into creating something positive, instead of this endless cycle of grievance and self-promotion.
It's not too late, of course. She could still change direction. She could focus on substance over style, on building something of genuine value rather than just trying to monetize her royal connection. But that would require humility and self-reflection—a willingness to learn from mistakes rather than blaming others for them.
I'm not holding my breath, though. The pattern we've seen so far suggests that when one venture doesn't immediately succeed, they don't pause to reflect and improve. They simply move on to the next thing, hoping for a different outcome while repeating the same fundamental errors.
That's what makes Schiffer's assessment so devastating. He's not just criticizing one business decision. He's identifying a pattern of "boneheaded choices" that suggests a fundamental lack of business acumen. And in today's economic climate, that's a luxury even former royals can't afford.
So, what does the future hold? Well, if Schiffer is right about the "horrific prospects" for this rebranded venture, we might see yet another pivot in the near future. Another grand announcement. Another attempt to reinvent the Sussex brand. Another opportunity for us to wonder what might have been if they'd only stayed the course as working royals.
And that's the real tragedy here. Not just the wasted money or the failed ventures, but the wasted potential. The good they could have done as working royals with the full support of the institution behind them. The positive impact they could have had.
Instead, we're watching this slow-motion car crash of poor decisions and missed opportunities.
I know this has been a bit of a rant today, my friends. But sometimes, you just need to call things as you see them. And what I'm seeing is a former royal who's out of her depth in the business world, making what experts are calling "boneheaded decisions" while possibly facing financial difficulties.
It's not the fairy-tale ending Meghan might have imagined when she married her prince. But it's the reality she's created through her own choices. And at some point, you have to take responsibility for those choices—rather than blaming everyone else for your failures.
As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Do you think American Riviera Orchard—sorry, As Ever—has any chance of success? Are you concerned about Harry and Meghan's financial future? And most importantly, what do you think William and Catherine make of all this drama from across the pond?
