Meghan Markle ‘Struck a Nerve’ With Her Latest Move on Princess Diana’s Birthday, Claims Expert
Since stepping down as a senior royal in 2020, Meghan Markle has focused on growing her various entrepreneurial endeavors, including her lifestyle brand, As Ever. The Duchess of Sussex has now forayed into the wine business, announcing the release of her 2023 Napa Valley Rosé on As Ever's website on July 1. Notably, the date also marked what would have been her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana's 64th birthday. Weighing in on her move, royal expert Kinsey Schofield slammed Markle’s decision, claiming her timing to release the wine was a calculated attempt to "hijack" Diana’s legacy.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Schofield claimed that the well-timed wine release has 'struck a nerve' with those in the royal household. She said, "A source close to the royal household told me, it's not lost on Prince William that Meghan has launched an alcohol brand on his mother's birthday, the very mum he lost in a drink driving tragedy." Adding further on her conversation with the insider, she dished, "When I asked if there was anger at Meghan for using Diana's birthday to promote her commercial products, my source replied: 'It's what he's come to expect from her'."
Schofield also believed that Markle's decision to time an alcohol launch on Diana's birthday was 'borderline cruel' on Prince Harry. She opined, "As Meghan is doing victory laps around the kitchen, excited for this launch, Harry is still thinking about the mother he lost... the mother that he talks to us about constantly." The expert shared an anecdote from one of her sources, who revealed that Princess Beatrice had once overheard the Duchess telling the Duke that ‘Diana spoke to her’ during a morning yoga session. Slamming her thoughts, she added, "I feel like Meghan has hijacked or attempted to hijack this woman's legacy, to the point where Meghan is so important that Diana is speaking to her from the other side of the yoga mat."
The royal expert also revealed that Prince William and Kate Middleton have learnt to ignore the Sussexes and their public antics. However, she cautioned that anything to do with William's mother was a 'tender spot.' She spilled, "Privately, there is hope within the family that Harry and Meghan will eventually thrive in the business world, not out of affection, but out of strategy....if they're secure and financially stable, maybe the public criticism towards the Palace and media outbursts will subside."
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The Duchess of Sussex launched her Rosé wine at 4 pm UK time, but the site was updated less than an hour later to announce that they were sold out. As reported by People magazine, her well-timed launch also pays a nod to the first time she spoke to her now-husband, Prince Harry. In his memoir, Spare, Harry shared that July 1, 2016, on what would have been his mother's 55th birthday, was the exact day he connected with Markle. After spotting a selfie of the Duchess on Instagram, he asked a mutual friend to introduce them, marking the beginning of their fairytale romance.