Royal Correspondent Michael Cole has criticised Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s “step down”, as the Duchess of Sussex has revealed the first product launch from her new lifestyle brand.
After announcing her new brand American Riviera Orchard on Instagram, the royal has unveiled her collection of jams, after sending 50 jars to American influencers and friends.
Sharing pictures of the pre-launch promotional basket she received, friend and fashion designer Tracy Robbins shared the product on her Instagram story, claiming that “breakfast, lunch and dinner just got a little sweeter” thanks to Meghan’s product.
The couple have also revealed two new projects with streaming giants Netflix, which will see a cooking series from Meghan and a behind-the-scenes polo documentary from Harry.
Michael Cole says American Riviera Orchard is ‘quite the step down’ for Meghan Markle
GB News / Getty
Reacting to the launch of the American Riviera Orchard jams, Michael Cole told GB News that “maybe there is a way back into the hearts of the British people” with her strawberry jam.
Cole argued that there was “nothing wrong” with the launch, but noted that the new lifestyle brand is most likely in connection with her latest project with Netflix.
Cole told host Martin Daubney: “Netflix have given a $100million contract to the Sussexes, and now the Sussexes are going to have to start singing for their supper, because Netflix want payback. They don’t give away all that money for nothing.
“Prince Harry is going to do this polo series and she’s going to do this lifestyle series, but it won’t be shot at their house or their hilltop Camelot in Montecito. It will be shot at a very nice house nearby, but not their own.”
The American Riviera Orchard jam was shared on Tracy Robbins’s Instagram story
Instagram / mrstracyrobbins
Cole then jibed: “So we can presume that their rescue chickens won’t be having a walk on part in the series.”
Reflecting on Meghan’s previous lifestyle project The Tig, which was closed down when she joined the Royal Family, Cole revealed that the blog was a “big no no” for Buckingham Palace when she first started dating Prince Harry.
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Cole revealed: “Really what this is, is the development of the blog she had before she was engaged, which was called The Tig. It was to do with a special sort of Spanish wine that she liked.
“But she closed that down for the very simple reason that when she half joined the British Royal Family, she was told she could not exploit her royal status for commercial gain, or allow others to do so.”
Cole stated that now the Sussexes are on their own, they are “very much in the marketplace” for commercial deals, and “have to earn their living”.
Michael Cole says Prince Harry and Meghan will need to ‘sing for their supper’
GB News
Cole said of their latest projects: “One of the ways they’re earning their living is selling themselves, that is their unique selling point. The fact that they have royal status.
“And they’re going to have to work at it, very hard, because they have a very expensive lifestyle. Security alone must cost a fortune. Three shifts a day of burly men guarding the perimeter of their house. Now, that burns through a lot of money.”
When asked by Martin if Meghan’s jams will “catch on” along with her lifestyle brand, Cole admitted: “I think it will. People will sign up for it. I hope the jam tastes nice, not too sugary. If it’s good, then it will sell.
“But it really is quite a step down from the pedestal they were once on.”
