The Duchess of Sussex has delivered a stylish response to critics who labelled her holiday promotional content as "beige and boring" by opting for a striking burgundy gown in her latest appearance.
A Festive Fashion Statement
The 44-year-old royal was captured glazing a turkey using her brand's $32 sage-infused honey while decorating gifts to promote her American Riviera Orchard holiday collection in the lead-up to Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.
Markle chose the Marion burgundy slip dress from Heidi Merrick, a Santa Barbara-based designer located conveniently close to the Sussexes' $14 million Montecito mansion. The elegant piece features a "timeless silhouette" with delicate black ribbon shoulder ties and strategic thigh slits, currently available at a reduced price of $304, down from its original $506 cost.
Family Traditions and Product Promotion
Accompanying her Instagram post captioned "Our table is set with a seat just for you," the Duchess shared intimate family details through her brand's newsletter. She revealed that alongside Prince Harry, 41, and their children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, they harvest sage from their garden to season homemade feasts.
The newsletter provided charming insights into their California lifestyle, describing "strolls through the garden with Archie and Lili running in tow, her husband checking on the bees, Pula chasing the ball with Mia trying to keep up." These sun-drenched moments, according to Meghan, transformed ordinary walks into "something a bit more magical."
Addressing the Colour Controversy
The fashion choice appears deliberately responsive to weekend criticism from royal fans who described her initial Christmas promotion as "depressing" and lacking festive cheer. Social media users had previously questioned the absence of traditional holiday colours in her promotional materials, with one commentator noting "There is not one thing that says 'holiday cheer' in this clip."
This criticism gained particular significance given Markle's previous revelations about modifying her wardrobe during royal duties. In her 2022 Netflix series, she explained adopting muted tones of camel, beige and white to "blend in" with royal protocol and avoid embarrassing the family.
The latest promotional efforts coincide with Meghan's return to acting, currently filming "Close Personal Friends" for Amazon MGM Studios - her first acting project since 2017. Meanwhile, her lifestyle brand continues to expand its offerings, including the newly promoted Sage Honey with Honeycomb retailing at $32 for a 9oz jar.
