Prince William is said to be absolutely livid after Meghan Markle’s latest business move crossed what royal insiders are calling a deeply personal line.
In a shockingly timed launch, Meghan dropped her newest product—a line of alcohol under her “As Ever” lifestyle brand—on July 1, the birthday of Princess Diana. The brand sold out within an hour, but the timing has stirred more backlash than celebration.
According to royal expert Kinsey Schofield, the move didn’t go unnoticed inside palace walls. In fact, it left the Prince of Wales stunned and furious. “It’s not lost on Prince William that Meghan has launched an alcohol brand on his mother’s birthday, the very mum he lost in a drink driving tragedy,” Schofield told The Sun.
The emotional weight of that date—already heavy for William and Harry—is now wrapped in controversy. For William, whose mother’s tragic death in 1997 still shapes much of his public and personal life, Meghan’s choice of launch date is being seen as more than just poor timing.
“Timing an alcohol launch to Diana’s birthday wasn’t just a misstep, it was borderline cruel,” Schofield added, pointing out that Diana’s legacy is something the royal family holds sacred—especially her two sons.
Critics have slammed the move as tone-deaf, with many calling it a deliberate provocation rather than a PR blunder. “To claim ignorance here doesn’t hold up—it wasn’t just insensitive. It felt like a betrayal of the very narrative she’s working so hard to craft,” Schofield continued.
The launch comes at a time when relations between the Sussexes and the royal family are still deeply fractured.
Prince Harry and Meghan famously stepped down from royal duties in 2020, moving to California with their young son, Prince Archie. In the years since, they’ve made headlines with bombshell interviews, including public allegations of racism within the Royal Family and claims of mistreatment.
While the couple welcomed their daughter, Princess Lilibet, in the U.S. and tried to forge a new path, their public image has remained polarizing on both sides of the Atlantic.
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Now, with Meghan diving further into her lifestyle empire, many see this latest launch as yet another point of contention. That it happened on such a deeply significant day for William only adds fuel to a fire that never fully burned out.
Though Prince Harry has not publicly commented on the timing of his wife’s alcohol launch, insiders believe he may have known about the date choice—and that’s raising eyebrows even higher.
“Even if Harry didn’t suggest the date, the fact that he didn’t stop it sends a message,” one source said. “It shows just how far removed he is from the emotional rhythms of his old life.”
Royal watchers have also noted the stark contrast in how both brothers honored their mother this year. While William and Kate have remained respectfully quiet, letting Diana’s legacy speak through their charity work and public service, Meghan’s brand took the spotlight—and sold out in record time.
The move has sparked debate online, with some praising Meghan’s business savvy, while others accuse her of using Diana’s memory as a marketing tool.
As the drama unfolds, one thing is certain: any hope of a quiet thaw in royal tensions just hit another roadblock. William’s reaction, described by insiders as “furious” and “deeply hurt,” signals that this latest stunt may have done more damage than Meghan and Harry realize. The rift is far from healed—and this time, it might just be irreparable.
