Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is poised to launch her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, in mid to late April. The brand is expected to blend cooking with the sale of goods like cookbooks and home products, drawing potential inspiration from the Californian brand Flamingo Estate. Despite Meghan’s previously expressed interest in becoming a partner with Flamingo Estate, founded in 2020 and known for its luxury goods, no partnership came to fruition, leading to the initiation of her own brand.

Parallel to this venture, Meghan has introduced a lifestyle blog under the same brand name, marking a return to her entrepreneurial and creative roots reminiscent of her previous blog, The Tig. This move occurs on the fourth anniversary of Meghan and Prince Harry’s relocation to California, reflecting her continuous passion for cooking and lifestyle, which she had to abandon after joining the Royal Family.

The unveiling of American Riviera Orchard has garnered significant interest, amassing 570,000 Instagram followers even before its official launch. Comparisons have been drawn between Meghan’s brand and other lifestyle influences, such as Martha Stewart, suggesting that Meghan aims to present a homier version of herself to the public.

Meghan’s recent public appearance at an art event in Los Angeles, wearing a Carolina Herrera coat, further heightened attention on her. Her fashion choice received acclaim on social media, highlighting her influence on product desirability and projecting a “regal” image that may promote her new business endeavor. This event represents Meghan’s first major public appearance since the announcement of her lifestyle brand, with expectations of future promotional activities involving both her and Prince Harry.

Set for an official launch on April 7, the same date her first blog went dark, American Riviera Orchard signals Meghan’s reentry into the lifestyle and creativity sphere. Interest in how her brand will evolve and the types of products and stories it will introduce is high among followers and royal commentators, who view her as potentially embodying the next “hostess with the mostess”.