Meghan Markle 'breaks major rule' says critics as she risks royal fury with American Riviera Orchard

The Duchess of Sussex is thought to have broken royal protocol with her American Riviera Orchard launch, as she uses her Sussex royal title and branding to help promote it.

Meghan launched her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard last month, quickly growing an online following via Instagram. Whilst the new brand has yet to begin retailing, it's thought to focus on selling a wide range of items such as household goods, cookware, pet products, gardening tools, beverages, food and condiments.

However it's been noted that American Riviera Orchard and its launch could land Meghan in hot water as she's seen as breaking royal rules.

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Meghan Markle launched American Riviera Orchard in March, but the brand could be seen as breaking royal protocol
(Image: American Riviera Orchard)

The rules prohibit members of the royal family from advertising or associating themselves with brand partnerships and endorsements. The new brand also uses Meghan's royal title of Duchess of Sussex as featured in the brand's Instagram bio where it states 'by Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex' and this could mean she's directly breaking the royal rules.

Earthweb privacy expert Trevor Cooke said: "Members of the royal family must tread carefully on social media, balancing their personal interests with their responsibilities to the monarchy. Any misstep could have significant repercussions for their reputation and the institution they represent."

The new brand has also seen Meghan come under fire from food icon and celebrity chef Martha Stewart who is said to find comparisons to Meghan Markle "irritating and insulting", leaving the Duchess of Sussex red faced. It was suggested Meghan could rake in more than six-figures in sales in the first weeks of American Riviera Orchard’s launch, and she's already been hailed as moving into the lifestyle industry and drawing comparisons to celebrities like Martha Stewart which has not gone down well.

Meghan Markle could be seen as breaking royal protocol as she uses her Sussex royal title to help build the American Riviera Orchard brand
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

A source claimed to In Touch the chef isn't pleased with the comparison as they said: "Martha has seen hundreds of Meghan types come and go — and says they all come in with the same self-inflated hype, only to find out it’s a whole new ball game when it comes down to brass tacks. She’s tired of being quizzed by people over how she feels about Meghan’s venture because, honestly, it’s irritating and insulting to her that she’s being compared to a rookie!"

An inside source also explained Martha has spent "decades building her brand" as they added: "If Meghan thinks she can come along and replicate that with barely any experience simply because she’s married to a prince, she better think again. Martha doesn’t put a whole lot of faith in her succeeding, but if she does prove to be any competition, Martha won’t hold back in trying to take her down."