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Meghan Markle’s reputation is not standing tall in the United Kingdom. The Duchess of Sussex stepped back from working for the royal family along with her husband, Prince Harry, in 2020. Since then, the two have been living more private lives in the United States as they raise their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

And whether Meghan means it or not, her moves sometimes come across as an attempt to overshadow the royals, though it might not be her intention. Her latest PR for American Riviera Orchard attempted to do just that — at the same time that Kate made her first public appearance in months.

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle | Karwai Tang/WireImage

Meghan Markle’s PR for her lifestyle brand just tried to overshadow Kate Middleton

It’s impossible to say whether Meghan planned to do it or not, so we aren’t going to cast blame on her. But on the same day that Kate made her first public appearance in months, Prince Harry’s best friend Nacho Figueras decided to give a major shoutout to Meghan’s new lifestyle business, American Riviera Orchard, by sharing some jam and dog biscuits on social media that Meghan’s brand had sent him, according to Express.

The problem is that the timing seemed to suggest that Meghan was trying to gain publicity from the move, but the reality is that Meghan likely had no idea when or how Figueras would give her brand a shoutout. Often, when brands gift products to high-profile people or influencers, they don’t have a say on when or how they’re shared; such was likely the case with Figueras, and Meghan almost certainly wouldn’t have planned for the content to go out the same day as Kate’s appearance.

But royal experts dubbed the move “clumsy” and “embarrassing” despite that it likely wasn’t Meghan’s fault. “Meghan’s done these publicity stunts essentially, where she sent out goods and encouraged friends and influencers to post about them. But you never know when they’re going to do it or what they’re going to say,” royal expert Richard Eden said to Palace Confidential, according to Express. “ … It’s very embarrassing.” Meanwhile, royal expert Rebecca English called the situation “clumsy.”

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What is Meghan Markle’s American Riviera Orchard?

Although it likely was just an honest circumstance of poor timing, people do often take opportunities to be tough on the Duchess of Sussex. But meanwhile, she is preparing to launch her new American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand, which sort of gives a Joanna Gaines-esque vibe; it’s going to offer things like homewares, artisan foods such as jams and jellies, plus decorative textiles and such. Right now, there is no clear date for when the brand will be open for the public to purchase items, but Meghan is clearly working hard to get its name out. And given that the press is covering her, it seems to be working — even if it isn’t always shed in the most positive light.

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