Meghan Markle has faced criticism after announcing three new products for her lifestyle brand, As Ever, at a time when her estranged father, Thomas Markle, has been arrested on charges related to the alleged possession of child sexual abuse material. The Duchess of Sussex was questioned by presenters of the Daily Express's Daily Expresso podcast, who challenged the timing of her promotional announcement as details of her father's arrest came to light.
Timing of announcement questioned
Daily Express Editor JJ Anisiobi said: “Meghan has come under fire again because just after her dad was arrested... she posted about her new products. Mark, she posted about three new jams.” He went on to question whether it was appropriate for the Duchess to be promoting her business while her family faced such serious allegations. He added: “I don’t want to be too hard on Meghan but if my dad was arrested on suspicion of child sex abuse, I don’t think I’d be trying to sell marmalade... I think I’d probably say, you know what, now is not the time to do that post.”
The comments follow Meghan's update on As Ever, in which she revealed a new fig jam as part of the brand's growing collection of seasonal products. In her latest newsletter, the Duchess described the product as having a “rich, jammy flavour with a naturally honeyed sweetness”. She suggested it could be enjoyed with soft cheese or served as part of a festive spread, adding that it was also available in a Fig Trio and Holiday Trio, both designed for gifting over the Christmas period. The announcement was accompanied by images on As Ever's official Instagram account, with one caption encouraging customers to share the products with loved ones during the festive season.
Father's arrest details
Thomas Markle, 82, was arrested in Florida on a federal complaint alleging possession of child sexual abuse material, according to the US Department of Justice. He has been charged with one count of possessing indecent images of children and was placed under house detention at his assisted living facility. During a court hearing, he was also ordered to wear electronic monitoring. No plea was entered.
The allegations relate to material seized by FBI agents during searches of storage units registered to Thomas Markle in Los Angeles. Authorities said approximately 78 items, including film negatives, slides and books, were recovered. Prosecutors also alleged that witnesses positively identified Markle in two images believed to contain child sexual abuse material. He has previously denied allegations of possessing such images, describing them as "sick lies".
Estrangement and response
Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018, with the BBC understanding that she broke contact with him last year. The Duchess previously addressed the allegations in October, releasing a statement in which she said: “I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.” Neither Meghan nor Prince Harry has publicly commented on Thomas Markle's arrest.
The latest controversy comes as the Sussexes reportedly settle into a new home in the UK, having spent recent months searching for a more permanent property in the Cotswolds. Harry and Meghan, who share two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, are understood to have moved into a smaller, separate property on the grounds of a wealthy friend's estate. They are also due to visit Brussels, where they will address the European Parliament, following speeches from Parliament President Roberta Metsola and MEP Antonio López-Istúriz. Meanwhile, Meghan has continued to develop As Ever, which has expanded its range of lifestyle and food products ahead of the festive season.
