Meghan Markle is facing backlash from royal experts who accuse her of using her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, for promotional purposes. The criticism follows the Duchess of Sussex’s recent rebranding of her lifestyle company from American Riviera Orchard to As Ever.
According to The Sun, the controversy began when a photo of her daughter, Lilibet, appeared on the newly launched As Ever website. This move sparked immediate criticism, with royal author Hugo Vickers suggesting that Meghan might be leveraging her children’s royal status for commercial gain.
Speaking to the media outlet, Vickers said, “I’m personally rather against people using their children for advertising purposes, especially when their children are officially members of the Royal Family.” He added, “They’ve been given princely titles. So, once again it’s exploiting the royal side.”
Vickers also pointed out Meghan’s strategic approach to sharing images of her children, stating, “We don’t often see the children. In fact, do we ever see them full on? We see the back of the head, occasionally, or we see a hand, or we see something. It’s all rather tantalizing.”
This criticism raises questions about Meghan and Harry’s approach to privacy, as they have been vocal about protecting their children from the media spotlight. Despite their efforts to keep Archie and Lilibet out of public view, the rare glimpses have often been carefully controlled, adding to the speculation about Meghan’s motives.
Meghan’s new brand, As Ever, is rumored to be her next big venture, possibly reviving elements from her pre-royal lifestyle blog, The Tig. Industry insiders believe the Duchess aims to carve a niche in the wellness and lifestyle market, competing with brands like Goop by Gwyneth Paltrow.
However, using her children in promotional materials has left some royal commentators questioning her commitment to privacy. Royal expert Angela Levin weighed in, saying, “It seems contradictory to complain about media intrusion while simultaneously using the children for branding purposes.”
The accusations come at a sensitive time, as Prince Harry and Meghan have consistently criticized the British press for invasive coverage. In their Netflix documentary, they detailed the challenges of raising children under intense media scrutiny, highlighting their desire to provide a normal upbringing for Archie and Lilibet.
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Nevertheless, this latest controversy puts Meghan’s motives under the microscope. Critics argue that featuring Lilibet’s photo, even subtly, undermines their narrative about protecting their children’s privacy.
Some royal fans, however, are defending Meghan, arguing that using family images is standard practice in lifestyle branding and that the criticism is unfairly harsh. Supporters claim that the backlash is another example of the media’s bias against Meghan, noting that other public figures frequently share family moments without similar scrutiny.
This debate also brings attention to the broader issue of children’s privacy in the digital age. Meghan and Harry are not the first public figures to face criticism for sharing selective images of their children, and they likely won’t be the last.
Despite the controversy, Meghan appears determined to move forward with her rebranding. Sources close to the Duchess reveal that she’s fully committed to making As Ever a success, with plans to expand into lifestyle products, wellness advice, and possibly a podcast series.
As the debate rages on, it remains to be seen how Meghan will navigate the fine line between leveraging her royal connections and maintaining her children’s privacy. The controversy raises important questions about celebrity culture, branding, and the ethics of using children in promotional materials.
For now, Meghan has not responded to the allegations, but her next move could shape public perception of both her brand and her role as a mother in the public eye.
