Meghan Markle's bold new move amid Kate Middleton 'chaos'

Meghan Markle is 'taking back control of her narrative' by announcing a new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.

While the internet swirls with rumours about Kate Middleton's public absence, Meghan's new platform will let her "carefully cultivate the image that she wants to transmit to the world", royal expert Kinsey Schofield told Yahoo Lifestyle.

The website is expected to focus on home, garden, food and general lifestyle topics, and is thought to be an extension of the Duchess' former blog, The Tig. "She’s been working on this for over a year and it’s all the things that are close to her heart — all the things she’s passionate about," an insider told Page Six.

Page Six Style also revealed that a trademark application for the brand states that it will sell a range of homewares, including jams, spreads, cutlery, table linen, drinkware and cookbooks.

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However, a video was shared on the brand's Instagram Stories, which showed Meghan arranging flowers and baking at what appears to be the home she shares with Prince Harry and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

It's also believed that Meghan will be launching a lifestyle show with Netflix, with Page Six reporting she hopes to be "the next Martha Stewart".

Kate Middleton's Photoshop controversy

Royals fans have found the timing quite curious, given that Kate Middleton has been in the middle of a PR crisis after confirming that the now-viral Mother's Day portrait she shared of herself and her three children was edited.

Photo agency AP retracted the photo soon after its release, saying, "At closer inspection, it appears that the source has manipulated the image."

A source close to Meghan and Harry has claimed that the Sussexes would "have been annihilated" if they released a heavily edited image like the one shared by Prince William and Kate.

Royal expert Kinsey Schofield says Meghan's announcement is no 'surprise'

American-based royal expert Kinsey Schofield tells Yahoo Lifestyle that this announcement from Meghan doesn't come as much of a surprise to her.

"I did suspect that we would get some type of announcement from Harry and Meghan amid the chaos," Kinsey says. "That is their style! But if I’m being honest, I consider the launch of Meghan’s new website a welcomed distraction from the wild Catherine conspiracies. Maybe Meghan’s fans can take a break from the insanity to admire her glossy Instagram video.

"Meghan was always much more confident being an influencer than a senior member of the royal family. Royalty requires a bit more discipline and dedication than she seemed comfortable with. Valentine Low wrote in his book Courtiers that after one royal engagement, Meghan commented, 'I can’t believe I’m not getting paid for this!' And now she can get paid per post! She technically doesn’t even have to leave her house."

Kinsey adds that Meghan is "already confident in this space", explaining, "Before meeting Prince Harry, she had taken meetings in the UK about becoming a TV host and developing a show around food and travel. I would not be surprised if she is developing something food and lifestyle-related for television through her relationship with Netflix... or maybe she will keep things audible via her Lemonada partnership."

The expert suggests that, with her new website, Meghan will be able to "carefully cultivate the image that she wants to transmit to the world".

"She has learned the hard way that she is not going to control the narrative through cherry-picked media opportunities," she says. "Meghan expressed disappointment in the public’s response to her Oprah [Winfrey] interview in her Netflix series… then she expressed disappointment in her The Cut interview in her Variety magazine interview. These tools give Meghan full control of the narrative going forward and amplifies her influence on how she will be perceived.

"I honestly think that Meghan enjoyed the process of creating The Tig and probably missed expressing herself in that way."

However, Kinsey doesn't believe the website and Instagram account will be enough to "change public perception"

"Meghan has become a very polarising character. People either love her or they loathe her," the commentator adds. "I do think that the Sussexes’ actions over the last several years have damaged the royal family, but a significant number of Americans resent their complaining and virtue signalling.

"Meghan’s fans will enjoy the new content, [she] will pay a publicist an offensive amount to make media care about her new content, but she will always be considered the American Duchess that couldn't hack it."

Meghan fans respond to new brand

As expected by Kinsey, Meghan's fans are very excited about the new brand's launch, with many sharing their thoughts on social media.

"Meghan Markle returning to Instagram with a lifestyle blog… as the Royal family is holding on for life is top tier Queen Moves," one Meghan fan wrote.

"Meghan Markle coming out with a home decor/lifestyle brand is EXACTLY what I needed to finish up my space!" another said. "I absolutely adore her tastes and have loved her style tips since “The Tig”. I absolutely cannot wait to see what she comes out with!"

"Meghan Markle hard launching a new business while nosey people everywhere are looking for Kate Middleton… she said I heard y’all needed a REAL Princess 🤭," a third added.

"Meghan Markle launching her lifestyle brand right now. She may only be a Duchess but she’s a LEO QUEEN," someone else wrote.

"Royalists can say all they want about Meghan Markle, but I know where she is and if she’s alive," another joked, referencing the fact that social media has been ablaze with theories on Kate's whereabouts after getting abdominal surgery in January.

"Idk what this is Meghan Markle is about to do but I am SIGNED UP FOR IT," one fan added.

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"I can hear the pearl clutching now, 'How could Meghan Markle launch her new brand at a time like this?!'" another said, adding, "Well, what time is that? The official line is that nothing is amiss [with Kate] and everything’s okay so this should be fine? Right?"

"Anti-Meghan Markle accounts: 'Boo hoo! Meg wants her privacy! Cry me a river! We paid for her wedding! We deserve to know everything!' Also them: 'People need to give Catherine the privacy & space she needs on the mystery surgery that she had. Take all the time you need, luv [sic],'" another pointed out.

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