Royal Rivals' Roast: The Inside Story Behind Meghan's 'As If' Brand Joke
Meghan's Billion-Dollar Ambition: A Royal Family Feud
It's been a year of royal drama, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are at the center of it all. The once-beloved couple has faced a barrage of criticism from senior royals since their infamous "Megxit" decision in 2020. But while they may have won over some fans with their recent "peace summit," insiders claim that behind closed doors, the royal family is still seething.
The Queen herself led the Palace's response to the Sussexes' bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, famously declaring "recollections may vary." But when Harry released his memoir Spare in January 2023, the Firm remained tight-lipped about the explosive revelations inside. It seems that some family members are still not ready to forgive and forget.
A shocking new revelation has emerged: friends of Prince William and Kate Middleton have been privately ridiculing Meghan's latest business venture, As Ever (formerly known as Markle Sparkle). According to a royal insider, they've been exchanging snarky WhatsApp messages, with one quipping that the Duchess's products are "as if" they'll be successful. The jab is particularly hurtful given that Meghan has invested heavily in her lifestyle brand, which has been plagued by production delays and website crashes.
The Sussexes' business ventures have been a mixed bag. While Meghan's initial product line sold out quickly (perhaps due to the royal hype?), her latest offerings – including Californian rosé wine – have been met with lukewarm enthusiasm. But don't count Meghan out just yet: she's also invested in several other companies, including vegan coffee brand Clevr Blends and haircare line Highbrow Hippie.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams spoke to thescholarlynote.com about Meghan's ambitious plans. "She wants to be a billionaire influencer and A-list celebrity," he revealed. "But she has very few A-list friends, and her public image is a major liability." He warned that Meghan's popularity is waning in the US, partly due to allegations of bullying (which she denies) and partly because she comes across as too self-obsessed.
Fitzwilliams' advice? Take a page from 16th-century diplomat Nicolo Machiavelli: "It's not necessary for a princess to be just; it's very necessary that she appear to be." Meghan, however, seems more interested in promoting her own brand than being liked by everyone. As one insider quipped, "The novelty has worn off, and if you preach love but trash the royal family you married into, you might not make the fortune you seek!"
But what about Harry? Isn't he supporting his wife's ambitions? Apparently not, according to Fitzwilliams. "Harry lacks the ruthlessness Meghan needs to succeed in the cutthroat world of celebrity." Ouch.
And then there are the Sussexes' joint business ventures with Spotify and Netflix. The former deal was mutually ended in June 2023, reportedly due to a lack of content (Meghan's Archetypes series was the only show produced). But insiders claim that Netflix is now "letting it expire without drama" – essentially, they're cutting ties with the couple after dismal viewing figures for With Love, Meghan.
The show, which premiered in March this year as part of the Sussexes' $100m deal, failed to break into Netflix's top 300 programs. It was even thrashed by multiple seasons of Suits! Harry's passion project documentary Polo didn't fare much better, ranking at a dismal 3,436 out of 7,000 shows.
It seems that Meghan and Harry's attempts to build a global empire are hitting some major stumbling blocks. Will they be able to bounce back from this royal family feud? Only time will tell.
