Meghan Markle intrigued royal fans when she teased the launch of her own lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard by sending hampers to her nearest and dearest containing her first product.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, sent special deliveries to the likes of fashion designer Tracy Robbins, as well as Delfina Blaquier, the wife of polo player Nacho Figueras.
The former Suits actress' surprise parcel contained an unexpected first glimpse of her new brand - a jar of jam. However, it seems that Meghan's lifestyle empire has been years in the making.
Meghan's muse
In a photo unearthed from the Duchess' blogging days, Prince Harry's wife is seen exploring Malta and in particular, indulging in the country's selection of handmade jams - from fig and peach to pomegranate and naspli.
The photo dates back to 2015 when the former star was commissioned by to write a travel piece about her exploration of Valletta, Gozo, Dingli, and Mdina.
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Reflecting on her time in Gozo, the Duchess wrote: "Head here for the fresh goat's milk Gozo cheese, prickly pear jam, and wild thyme honey, as well as the local wines."
Prior to marrying into the royal family, Meghan wrote prolifically for her lifestyle blog The Tig. The now-discontinued site gave the former actress a platform for all her personal musings.
In her own words, The Tig was Meghan's "hub for the discerning palate - those with a hunger for food, travel, fashion & beauty."
A royal blogger
It seems that in stepping back from senior royal duties, the creation of a lifestyle brand was a natural next step for the Duchess. "American Riviera Orchard is a logical next step for Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex," said royal expert Christine Ross in an interview with HELLO!.
"Before her marriage, her website The Tig was growing in popularity and notoriety. When it was closed prior to her wedding, there was an outcry for her down-to-earth content and insights into her lifestyle.
"The appeal of these websites is the relatability, like we could achieve the same level of glamour or elegance if we just had the same breakfast recipes."
The mother-of-two made the decision to close down her website just months before her engagement to Prince Harry in November 2017.
The Duchess' entrepreneurial spirit
Fans of the Duchess of Sussex look forward to what is next for American Riviera Orchard. Though her next step is yet to be confirmed, trademark applications filings for American Riviera Orchard include tableware, cutlery, dinnerware and decanters, napkins and tablecloths, and a variety of food items ranging from jams and jellies to spreads and butters.
Since stepping fully into life in sunny Montecito, Meghan and Harry have signed commercial deals with Netflix, Spotify and book contracts.
The couple have also pursued their mutual love of travel, heading to Canada in February ahead of the 2025 Invictus Games and to Nigeria in May by invitation from Nigeria's chief of defence staff, General Christopher Musa.
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The pair also launched the Archewell Foundation in 2020 which "consciously partners with key organizations and leaders to identify immediate needs, build meaningful initiatives, and drive long-term change."
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