MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) — Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has made a return to Instagram to hint at a new brand that records indicate may include jams, household items, cookbooks, and cutlery.
The former actress left Instagram when she became engaged to Prince Harry. However, a new account called American Riviera Orchard recently appeared on Instagram, claiming to be created by Meghan. This unconfirmed account included photos of a logo and a link to a website where people could join a waitlist for more details.
Documents filed in February with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office registered the name American Riviera Orchard and applied for trademark protection for various goods and services, including textiles, cutlery, jellies, jams, marmalades, and assorted food spreads. It also mentioned the possibility of featuring coffee and tea services, servingware, decanters, and other beverage wear.
The filing also mentioned that cookbooks and a retail space should be covered by the application.
An inquiry to a representative of the duchess went unanswered. The trademark was filed under a company called Mama Knows Best, which Delaware records show was registered in January.
“The American Riviera” has been a trademarked phrase used to promote tourism and travel in the Santa Barbara area.
During a panel at the South by Southwest festival, Meghan spoke alongside Katie Couric and Brooke Shields about the negative impact of social media on young mothers, including herself. She revealed that she experienced online bullying and abuse during her pregnancies and after her children were born.
“I keep my distance from it right now just for my own well-being,” she said. “You really wrap your head around why people would be so hateful. It’s not catty. It’s cruel.”
Before marrying Prince Harry, Meghan was a lead actress on the series “Suits” and ran a popular blog called The Tig. She closed it after her engagement, although she and Harry had a shared Instagram account when they were still senior working royals.
Meghan and Harry reside in Montecito, California, a coastal community near Santa Barbara that is populated by numerous celebrities. The Instagram post announcing American Riviera Orchard includes a reference to Montecito.
The couple relinquished official royal duties in January 2020, giving up their titles of “your highness” and stopped receiving public funds. Meghan produced a podcast for Spotify, and Harry released a successful memoir in the years following their exit.
