Meghan Markle has launched a new business venture, American Riviera Orchard, with a website and Instagram account. The brand, whose details remain scarce, marks her return to social media four years after she and Prince Harry stepped back from royal duties.
Before her royal life, Meghan ran a popular blog called The Tig, named after her favourite wine. It covered feminism, travel, arts, design and wellness, and built a large online community. However, she shut it down in 2017, just before her engagement to Harry, reportedly to reduce media scrutiny.
According to the book Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, Meghan feared The Tig would be exploited. The authors wrote: 'It wasn't so much that her blog was criticised as it was used to fuel false speculation about her personal life with the prince.'
In her final post, titled 'Farewell, Darling', Meghan wrote: 'After close to three beautiful years on this adventure with you, it's time to say goodbye to The Tig... Keep finding those Tig moments of discovery, keep laughing and taking risks, and keep being the change you wish to see in the world.'
The new brand's Instagram account posted a vintage-style video of Meghan cooking and arranging flowers. A trademark application suggests the company will offer recipe books, tableware, textiles, and jams. The account gained 100,000 followers within three hours of its first post.
