Inside Meghan PLC: The Duchess of Sussex is set to sell everything from spoons to calligraphy pens and dog collars… with no mention of Harry

Since erupting into public consciousness in late 2016 when her romance with Prince Harry became ­public, Meghan Markle has insisted on attaching two epithets to her name — humanitarian and feminist.

Back when she was a working member of the British Royal Family, this was how the biography on the institution’s web page — at her insistence — described her, and how she has determinedly portrayed herself since. Now, though, hot on the heels of the ­couple’s philanthropic relaunch with the ­sussex.com website, comes Meghan’s own passion project.

Indeed, when one reads the full list of wares the Duchess of Sussex is ­potentially seeking to sell, it’s difficult to avoid the conclusion that this new company ­heralds nothing less than the birth of Meghan PLC: an all-encompassing lifestyle brand for those who are keen to imitate her trademark glossy ‘stealth wealth’ look.

Indeed, filings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office mention a very broad range of goods which might be sold by her, ranging from gardening forks and string lights, branded tote bags, blankets, cushions, yoga mats, salsas, spices, chutneys and dog-collars. Other proposed items for sale include servingware, decanters, tea and coffee cups, dinner services, matchbox holders, stationery of all kinds and cookbooks, both online and in print.

Described as ‘Tig 2.0’ it does appear to take up where her pre‑Harry blog, The Tig, left off and looks to aim to compete with Martha Stewart, the American billionaire cooking, crafts and gardening guru who rules the scene. But while The Tig, the influencer brand Meghan created, had a larky, single girl vibe and was all about exotic mini-breaks, afternoons filled with rosé wine and high heels, her new project is very much the ‘mom’ version.

What, truly, could be less carefree than a napkin ring, guest book or table place card-holder, all of which speak to a distinctly studied kind of living? These are all items which she is seeking to sell under the trademark. An application at the U.S. ­Patent and Trademark Office shows that American Riviera Orchard may even one day open a shop, although sources say initially this will be an Instagram and website business.

It — the Instagram account, website and online shop — will go live imminently. Probably early in April. What can we expect? First, there will be more filmed footage, which has been captured at the Montecito home she shares with Harry and their children Archie and Lilibet. In the brief video released so far, Meghan has been seen cooking, wearing a white tank top, arranging roses and wafting around her garden in a black ballgown.

It’s thought their trusted friend Terry Wood, who ­produced the Oprah special and Meghan’s Archetypes podcasts, is involved in ­filming content for the ­website, which will initially show Meghan cooking and entertaining. First out of the blocks will be videos which offer some recipes, and American Riviera Orchard will sell a limited range of goods, too. Sources indicate coffee cups and jams will be first.

In terms of food, Meghan’s specialities include roast chicken — following the recipe of the American TV cook Ina Garten, also known as the Barefoot Contessa, which involves basting the skin with ­butter; zucchini pasta sauce, which involves cooking the vegetable for four hours ‘until creamy’; and simple grilled fish tacos. She’s also a fan of that Californian staple ‘avo’ toast, which she describes as ‘soul-nourishing’ and serves with a sprinkle of feta, chilli flakes and pepitas — a type of pumpkin seed.

Sources indicate that the watchwords for Meghan’s new venture are ‘elevated’ and ‘curated’ — and that the website will offer an oh-so-luxe take on home-making. Her lifestyle in that famous $14million mansion will be front and centre of her new project. Having watched videos on the website, mere mortals will have the chance to buy expensive cream coffee cups and dream they, too, have married a prince and live in a home with ocean views and 16 bathrooms. Not only will there be cooking wares approved by Meghan but, in the months to come, a full-on cooking show presented by her will be made for Netflix.