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MARKLE SPARKLE
Hidden meanings behind Meghan’s new crest revealed as duchess uses her own calligraphy to ‘promote royal heritage’
Handwriting and brand experts shared their thoughts on Meghan's new symbol
MEGHAN Markle has unveiled a crest for her latest business venture, which experts say reveals she wants to “project a cultured image”.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, has announced the arrival of American Riviera Orchard on Instagram and launched a new website.
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Everything we know about Meghan's new business
MEGHAN Markle has launched a new Instagram brand called American Riviera Orchard.
Industry insiders said the site will focus on home, food, garden and lifestyle goods.
A source told the Mail: "It’s a lifestyle and cooking brand called American Riviera Orchard.
"The brand is meant to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show for Netflix.
"Meghan will be making, and selling, products such as jams. And at some point there will be a book and blog etc."
It has been backed with a sleek new clip, ornate calligraphy and a royal-style crest.
The Instagram page shows the emblem with the words 'American Riviera Orchard' styled in an ornate handwriting.
Below that, it says Montecito in capital letters.
The wording and crest are in a golden colour on a whitish-grey background.
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The symbol appears to contain the letters A and R, likely in reference to American Riviera.
Consultant graphologist Tracey Trussell told The Sun: “Stylised writing is equivalent to a persona or role playing, and always uncovers a conscious desire to project a cultured image.
“In other words, it’s a false self. It tells of a person who wants to stand out and be different - someone special.
“The cursive handwriting falling obliquely forwards reveals her barely contained enthusiasm and passion for her latest brand, and the almost perfect clockwork regularity (and closely dotted i’s) reflect the exacting standards and commitment she’s investing.”
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She continued: “However, the linear script, with an accent on the vertical and the narrow arched-shaped letters, strongly indicate Meghan’s lack of spontaneity and reveal that she is guided not by her feelings, but by her thinking.
“The large capital letters with flourishes relate to pride and uncover how much prestige and status means to Meghan."
Timing of Meghan launch on same DAY as Diana awards is 'calculated' and shows she's trying to 'one up' Kate, says expert
The handwriting expert added: “If you look closely at the word ‘American’, the letters are visibly increasing in size. This tells of a woman who is outspoken and inclined to hyperbole.”
Meanwhile, the understated gold colour scheme "symbolises wealth, prosperity, luxury and royalty,” she said.
Meanwhile, brand and culture expert Nick Ede said the new launch shows Meghan is taking a step towards "becoming a major player in the celebrity brand market".
He added: “She could be the next Martha Stewart with her creating a brand that appeals to her fan base.
“So many stars have very successful brands and Meghan will be using her star power to drive this.
“With the Montecito moniker she’s showing its home grown and California based.
“As a revenue steam she can make millions from her own brand and build a big database of consumers who want to buy into a bit of Meghan.”
Nick commended the crest as a "good idea for a brand identity", saying: "She’s playing off the royal heritage and although it’s a new brand it has an old fashioned font which makes it feel like a legacy brand too.
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“Familiar and yet not modern at all. The crest gives it gravitas and authority."
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams was more critical of the design however, simply describing it as a "right royal jumble".
He added: "It looks like two spiders fighting.
"Calligraphy should be neat and it should be simple. This is far too complicated."
While the Instagram page only went live earlier today it has already attracted 210,000 followers.
While it is not clear exactly what Meghan’s latest venture will entail it has been promoted by a stylish video showing the Duchess busy in the kitchen and in the garden.
The footage is accompanied by the Nancy Wilson song I Wish You Love.
Markle sparkle: Duchess' business ventures from wellness blog The Tig to kids' book The Bench
Along with her well-known acting career Meghan has also carved out something of a career in the business world as well.
Before getting engaged to Prince Harry, the Suits actress had her lifestyle blog The Tig but this was closed down when she got engaged in 2017.
The Tig, named after her favourite wine Tignanello, was seen as something as a rival to Gwyneth Paltrow's £200million Goop, which offers similar wellness and "conscious living" content.
She previously described it as a "passion project" which "evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity".
Since stepping down as senior royals, the couple have produced a podcast, Netflix documentary and memoir, as well as several high-profile interviews between them.
These are said to have made them millions of dollars.
Speaking in docuseries Harry & Meghan, the mum-of-two said of the blog: "It wasn't just a hobby, it became a really successful business.
"I've never really been the type of person to do only one thing. I guess that's how my website was born.
"There was fashion, tons of food, and travel - all the things that I loved."
Rumours emerged in March last year that Meghan was going to relaunch the blog.
Meghan also ventured into the world of children's books with the launch of The Bench in June 2021.
Inside Meghan's 34-page book The Bench, the illustrations give a fresh glimpse into the Sussexes' "authentic" life at their LA home - featuring their then newborn daughter.
The publication was a commerical success with it becoming a number one bestseller on Amazon's chart.
Meghan dedicated her book to the "man and boy who make my heart go pump-pump" in a sweet note for her husband Prince Harry and son Archie.
The mum was "inspired" to write the book after originally creating a poem for Harry's first Father's Day.
The royal couple have also been reported to be planning an Oprah-style media empire after registering a series of new entertainment businesses.
A leading royal commentator says the couple "want to earn loads more money" after they filed 11 companies in tax haven Delaware - seven of which are linked to showbiz ventures.
They appear to have names which are meaningful to the couple, with one – Cloverdale Inc – bearing the same name as the street that the Duchess lived on with her mother in Los Angeles when she was young.
Both Cloverdale and a second company, Riversoul Productions Inc, are set up explicitly in the “entertainment” industry, and join companies Hampshire LLC, Bridgemont LLC and IPHW LLC.
The couple are already using name Archewell Productions for their Netflix and Spotify deals.
According to filings, the application for American Riviera Orchard was made on February 2, 2024.
Under the listing for the goods and services it will provide, it includes: "Tableware, namely, knives, forks, and spoons; table cutlery" and "Jellies, jams; marmalades; fruit preserves; edible oils and fats, and preserves; vegetable-based spreads; legume-based spreads; nut-based spreads; garlic-based spreads; sesame-based spreads; dairy-based spreads; nut butters; fruit butters," as well as other items.
It’s believed the launch of the brand comes alongside a new Netflix cookery show where Meghan will be making and selling her own products.
This will also lead into a book and blog to accompany her cooking.
The launch marks the return of the Duchess to social media after she deleted her public accounts while dating Prince Harry.
She had run a lifestyle blog called The Tig, which she named after her favourite wine, Tignanello.
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Meghan abandoned this though in the run up to her wedding at Windsor Castle.
Reports emerged last August saying The Tig was set to make a comeback but this has not yet happened.
Prince William's full speech at the Diana Legacy Awards
I'm delighted to be here today to recognise the transformational achievements of twenty exceptional young people from across the world.
Each and every one of their stories - which you will hear shortly - are testament to their character, passion and determination to make a lasting and meaningful difference to the lives of others.
The paths taken by these young people have not always been easy. Many have overcome adversity and prejudice, but they are driven by courage, compassion and commitment - qualities shared by my mother.
Their stories remind us of the importance of organisations like The Diana Award. I've seen on many occasions over the years how this charity empowers and mobilises young people to take action and make the changes they want to see in their communities and the world around them.
Over the next two years, The Diana Award, alongside many of their partners here today, will equip these young people with the skills to have an even bigger impact. I am excited to see what they can do together.
This evening's Legacy Award is particularly special as it marks the 25th anniversary year of The Diana Award - a charity set up to reflect my mother's belief that young people can change the world.
I know that she would have been honoured to see a charity in her name doing such inspirational work to uplift young people from all corners of the globe.
She taught me that everyone has the potential to give something back; that everyone in need deserves a supporting hand in life.
That legacy is something that both Catherine and I have sought to focus on through our work, as have the 50,000 young people who have received a Diana Award over the past 25 years.
I am so proud to see this belief of my mother's manifested in the amazing young people receiving the Legacy Award tonight.
Thank you.
Prince Harry's speech to youngsters
Harry quizzed a group of young Diana Legacy Award winners in the "casual" video chat.
He told them: "Thank you, very much, for inspiring so many others and at the same time protecting my mother’s legacy.
"I really appreciate that. And, again, well done on this fantastic group of individuals."
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