Royal expert warns Duchess to avoid blending in with celebrity wine crowd
Meghan Markle has been urged to proceed with caution following the latest
expansion of her lifestyle brand, As Ever, into the alcohol market.
The Duchess of Sussex recently announced the upcoming release of a rosé
wine—her brand’s first foray into beverages—set to debut on 1 July. The move
comes after the viral success of her fruit preserves, which drew widespread
attention earlier this year.
However, royal biographer Hugo Vickers has expressed concern that Meghan’s new
product could be seen as unoriginal in a market saturated with celebrity
alcohol brands.
“You’ve got to be jolly careful,” Vickers warned. “Because if you start just
sort of taking other people’s products and putting your name on it… I’m not
saying she’s done that exactly, but even by accident, that could cause
trouble.”
He continued, “If you like rosé wine, you’ll probably have one you’re loyal
to. I must admit, I wouldn’t be tempted to go for hers.”
The Duchess, 43, previously made headlines for describing perceived setbacks
as “successes in disguise,” and continues to build her California-based brand
with a mix of food, wellness, and lifestyle products.
Still, royal commentators suggest that with heightened visibility comes
increased scrutiny—making originality and authenticity more essential than
ever.
