Meghan Markle Quietly Prepares Lifestyle Brand Launch for Later This Year, CEO Search Rumors Debunked: Source

Mar. 15, 2025

Meghan Markle speaks onstage at The Archewell Foundation Parents' Summit: Mental Wellness in the Digital Age during Project Healthy Minds' World Mental Health Day Festival 2023 at Hudson Yards on Oct. 10, 2023 in New York City.Photo:Bryan Bedder/Getty

Bryan Bedder/Getty

Meghan Markleis gearing up for the launch of her new lifestyle brand.

A source tells PEOPLE that the Duchess of Sussex has been busy working behind the scenes to prepare for thelaunch of American Riviera Orchard, slated for later this year.

The source also dismisses claims that Meghan, 42, has been struggling to find a CEO for her brand, leading to delays in its launch, clarifying that these reports are untrue.

An insider previously told PEOPLE that Meghan’s new venture “will reflecteverything that she loves— family, cooking, entertaining and home décor.”

The insider added that the Duchess of Sussex “is excited abouther latest, personal venture."

“This is something she’s been wanting to do for a while. She is excited to share her style and things that she loves,” they added.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in Bogota, Colombia on Aug. 15, 2024.Juancho Torres/Anadolu via Getty

Juancho Torres/Anadolu via Getty

Meghan announced the forthcoming brand in March alongside an accompanyingwebsiteandInstagram page.

Atrademark applicationfor American Riviera Orchard made it clear that the brand’s reach is wide, revealing plans to sell tableware, drinkware, kitchen linens, edible treats such as jellies, jams, marmalade and spreads, cookbooks and a whole host of other items. And Meghan is no stranger to the lifestyle space — she created the lifestyle blogThe Tigin 2014 beforeshuttering it in 2017, ahead of her wedding toPrince Harrythe next year.

The Duchess of Sussex has also beenadding to her investment portfolio. Meghan told theNew York Timesin an Aug. 28 interview that the small portfolio of female-run companies she supports has just gained a new addition — the handbag brand Cesta Collective, which Meghan found organically while shopping online.

Earlier this year, Tracy Robbins andDelfina Blaquiergave the public a glimpse of American Riviera Orchard’spossible first product— strawberry jam. The two women posted photos of the product in small, numbered jars labeled with American Riviera Orchard’s logo, and other celebrities includingKris Jenner,Chrissy TeigenandMindy Kalingwould later follow suit.

In June, Blaquier’s husband — and longtime friend of Prince Harry —Nacho Figueras revealeda new raspberry jam flavor, along with a container labeled “Dog Biscuits.” Dog biscuits, along with other pet supplies, made the cut for the trademark application for exclusive rights under the American Riviera Orchard brand.

Meghan Markle arrives for Variety’s Power of Women event in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 16, 2023.Lisa O’Connor/AFP via Getty

Lisa O’Connor/AFP via Getty

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Meghan Markle visits the Hubb Community Kitchen in London on Nov. 21, 2018.CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty

American Riviera Orchard’s name is a nod to Santa Barbara, the town in California where Meghan, 43, and her husband Prince Harry, 39, reside with kidsPrince Archie, 5, andPrincess Lilibet, 3. Meghan found the brand name the right fit, as Santa Barbara has been nicknamed the “American Riviera” for over a century, PEOPLE previously reported.

“Meghan finds the name American Riviera Orchard perfect,” a source told PEOPLE. “It feels authentic to her. She can’t wait for the website to launch.”

source: people.com