Diana, Who? A 'Beyond Cruel' Meghan Markle 'Took Away Harry's Spotlight' on Day He Honored His Mother Via Video
Meghan Markle took the opportunity to launch her new brand at the moment Prince Harry was honoring Princess Diana at an awards gala.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has been accused of stealing Prince Harry's limelight as he honored his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, at the Diana Awards.
Royal author Angela Levin dished: "She took away Harry’s spotlight on the day of his mother's charity. He loves his mother; he still feels they’re in connection with the heavens. He feels like Meghan has sort of replaced her."
"He thinks Diana would have adored Meghan, and they’d have been best friends. I don’t think that is quite right," she added. "I think to spoil that occasion for your husband and take the limelight from him is beyond cruel."
The Duchess of Sussex launched her new brand, American Riviera Orchard, on Instagram as the 25th annual awards were in session. Prince William was in person at the event to pay homage to Diana's legacy, and Harry appeared on video to do the same later in the ceremony.
The Instagram profile for Meghan's new brand has already amassed over 500,000 followers in its first week, and some reports are suggesting it will tie into a Netflix cooking show.
Ever since her signing with WME in April of 2023, speculation has been leaning toward the ex-actress turning her focus back to the lifestyle/influencing sphere. The Suits star ran the successful blog The Tig before she married Prince Harry in the spring of 2018, but closed it down upon becoming the Duchess of Sussex.
"Meghan Markle's surprise launch of American Riviera Orchard, a lifestyle brand for home, food, garden, and lifestyle goods, is a fascinating venture," entertainment expert Mark Boardman told an outlet. "The name might be a touch whimsical, but with hundreds of thousands of followers already, her ability to generate buzz is undeniable."
He continued: "Whether American Riviera Orchard becomes the next Goop remains to be seen, but it's a strategic decision. Leveraging her Hollywood influence could propel the brand to success, especially among fans who admire her style."
"The brand identity itself is interesting," Boardman added. "The website uses her recognizable calligraphy and the same developers behind Archewell/Sussex.com, hinting at a personal touch and potentially high-quality products.
The PR expert concluded: "This venture positions Meghan to capitalize on her Hollywood star power and potentially build a successful luxury brand.
Despite her new success and regarding the Diana snub, a palace insider revealed that "Meghan can try and hawk a million different things, and it would never be enough to reach Lady Diana's iconic status."
They added: "Even nearly 30 years after her death, Diana still garners clicks and headlines as if [she were] still here. She is a Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley type of icon — Meghan is nothing but a social climber."
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GBN spoke with Levin.
