Meghan Markle baffles fans with ‘word salad’ name of new brand ‘American Riviera Orchard’ which is inspired by her Montecito home

The Duchess of Sussex has confused fans with the name of her new lifestyle brand – American Riviera Orchard.

Meghan, 42, announced her new business on Instagram yesterday with a glossy clip plus a few little hints of what the venture may entail. The launch of her Montecito-based brand has come with substantial speculation about what the venture might be and what the name means.
An insider told the Daily Mail that Meghan’s new business will be a ‘lifestyle and cooking brand’ centred around her passions.

And while it seems likely that the brand is focused on lifestyle entertainment, the name – American Riviera Orchard – is still hotly contested online. However, the moniker holds personal significance to the Duchess. Royal watchers have branded the brand ‘word salad’ and said it’s ‘not the snappiest name’.

Montecito, the area of California where Meghan and Prince Harry, 39, reside, is often referred to as the American Riviera. The Californian town is associated with the northern Mediterranean Sea Coast, known as the Riviera, due to its geography and climate. While that accounts for part of the name, the meaning behind ‘orchard’ is yet to be disclosed. Despite the partial justification, fans remain baffled as to why Meghan would make American Riviera Orchard her brand name.

People took to X to express their confusion. One said: ‘ABC News: Meghan Markle launches American Riviera Orchard. What kind of word salad name is that?’ A second added: ‘I don’t understand the name American Riviera Orchard?’ ‘Wishing Meghan all the luck but American Riviera Orchard sounds like a dog’s name at Crufts,’ said a third.

A fourth chimed in and wrote: ‘American Riviera Orchard. Not the world’s snappiest brand name, is it?’ Another questioned: ‘She called it American Riviera Orchard? What on earth does that mean? Is she selling apples now?’ ‘I’ve been calling for Meghan to get back to influencing for years but could she have picked a worse name than American Riviera Orchard, said a sixth.

Another agreed and said: ‘I’m sorry but American Riviera Orchard is the clunkiest brand name I’ve heard in a long time. All nine syllables just roll off the tongue.’ The Duchess of Sussex’s new project is said to have been in the works for more than a year – and will feature ‘all the things that are close to her heart’.

The flash company is set to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show featuring Meghan on Netflix – where she will be making and selling her own products. It will lead onto a book and blog to go alongside her cookery displays. It is understood that a trademark application has been made covering cutlery – knives forks spoons – cookbooks and electronic cookbooks, coffee, jams jellies and butters. It also extends to a physical shop from which tableware, mugs, jams, tablecloths and recipe books could be sold.