Royal Calligraphy Takes Centre Stage in Festive Product Launch
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has once again demonstrated her impressive calligraphy skills with the launch of new As Ever products just in time for the Christmas season. Taking to Instagram, the royal showcased her handwritten talents on labels for honey jars and a leather bookmark set that form part of her latest holiday collection.
Exclusive Products with Personal Touches
The newly released items feature Meghan's distinctive calligraphy throughout, with a leather bookmark bearing the handwritten phrase 'fell asleep here' and 9oz honey jars displaying the As Ever brand in her elegant script. In promotional images, the bookmark appears nestled within an edition of Charlie Mackesy's popular book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, while Meghan's handwritten notes add a personal touch to the presentation.
According to the Instagram announcement, the special bundle is exclusively available at Godmothers bookshop for a limited time, with the post declaring 'Our Honey Duo just got sweeter'. This launch follows Meghan's recent holiday line introduction earlier this month, which expanded her product range significantly.
Building on Previous Success and Skills
This isn't the first time the Duchess has shared her calligraphy expertise with the public. Between 2004 and 2005, while building her acting career, Meghan taught calligraphy, gift-wrapping and book-binding at the Paper Source store in Beverly Hills. During this period, she also worked as a freelance calligrapher, most notably creating the invitations for celebrities Robin Thicke and Paula Patton's 2005 wedding.
Winnie Park, CEO of Paper Source in the US, previously confirmed to PEOPLE that Meghan hosted two-hour calligraphy classes, advising customers on projects ranging from wedding invitations to personalised stationery. The Duchess has long been an advocate for handwritten communication, having written on her former lifestyle blog The Tig: "I think handwritten notes are a lost art form."
The impact of Meghan's calligraphy skills extends beyond her own products. A 2018 Hobbycraft trends report documented a 40% increase in interest for calligraphy kits compared to 2017, with sales peaking around the time of the Royal Wedding on 19 May 2018.
Expanding the As Ever Collection
The latest launch builds upon Meghan's recent holiday product expansion, which introduced several new items to the As Ever line:
- Two scented candles retailing at $64 each
- A $16 hot toddy and apple cider spice mulling kit
- Special sage honey with honeycomb priced at $32
- A gift set featuring strawberry jam alongside existing orange marmalade and raspberry spreads for $42
The Duchess has been actively promoting these products on her Instagram page, even releasing a promotional video showing her picking apples in an orchard while wearing a black boatneck dress and white cardigan.
Market Reception and Expert Opinion
Despite the personal touches and premium positioning, some experts have questioned whether the products will resonate with consumers during the current economic climate. Sarah Schmidt, President of Interdependence Public Relations, suggested that Meghan might be 'misreading the room' with her pricing strategy.
"The vibe of this year's consumer is that of practicality and quiet comfort," Schmidt shared. "The idea of 'everyday luxury' works when people buy into the story. As Ever still feels like it's selling access to Meghan. And is that something people are willing to pay a premium price for this holiday? Probably not."
Fans have previously glimpsed Meghan's penmanship in 2019 when author Matt Haig shared a thank you note he received from her after she featured his poem in her guest-edited Vogue issue. The handwritten letter, created using her flawless calligraphy on monogrammed 'M' stationery, made such an impression that Haig remarked he wished he could tell his 'young hopeless suicidal self about all of this magic to stay alive for'.
The Duchess's commitment to the art form continues to shape her business ventures, blending personal passion with commercial enterprise as she expands the As Ever brand into the festive season.
