Mystery as UK domain name for Meghan Markle’s American Riviera Orchard is snapped up – and mystery owner leaves a VERY pointed message for Montecito duchess
The British domain name for Meghan Markle’s American Riviera Orchard has been acquired, directing those curious about the Sussexes’ latest venture to a food bank donation site.
The Duchess Soft launched the first product from her new lifestyle brand this week, sending a jar of jam to influencers and friends, including her comedian friend Mindy Kaling and actress Tracee Ellis.
Those wishing to visit her new website ‘americanriveria.com’ will be taken to a flash page asking fans to join a waiting list.
However, those who visit the site ending ‘americanriveriaorchard.uk’ will see a Just Giving page for the Trussell Trust.
It is unknown who decided to buy the domain and why, but they left a very pointed message for the estranged California royal family.
“Not Meghan. I hope Meghan doesn’t mind. Thoughts with Catherine
Have you purchased the domain name? Email eirian.prosser@dailymail.co.uk
However, those who visit the site ending ‘americanriveriaorchard.uk’ will see a Just Giving page for the Trussell Trust
The story on the Just Giving page includes a cryptic message that reads: ‘Not Meghan. I hope Meghan doesn’t mind. Thoughts with Catherine x’
The British domain name for Meghan Markle’s new company, American Riviera Orchard, has been bought up. Pictured: Kate and Meghan at Wimbledon in 2018
Those wishing to visit her new website ‘americanriveria.com’ will be taken to a flash page asking fans to join a waiting list
The message of support for the Princess of Wales comes after she revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer last month and was undergoing chemotherapy.
Once users open the website, they are met with the cryptic words ‘forgiveness’ and ‘consent’ before encouraging people to ‘please donate to the Trussell Trust’.
It seems unlikely that the domain was purchased by Meghan’s representatives, while those who donated suggest that a Good Samaritan was responsible for buying up the domain.
The Trussell Trust confirmed to MailOnline that it had not set up the web page and was not aware of the donation site.
Sophie Carre, Director of Public Engagement at the Trussell Trust, said: ‘The Trussell Trust is grateful to people who have given their time and energy to supporting our work to end the need for food banks in Britain.
The charity is not associated with this website domain and does not know who set it up.”
So far the fake page has raised £56 of its £1,000 target, with one US-based backer writing: ‘I’m happy to support from across the pond and happy to know this organization via the link on the American Riviera Orchards website. .’
Another added: ‘A really good way to draw attention to the great work they do.’
The Duchess (pictured last week) launched the first product from her new lifestyle brand this week, sending a jar of jam to influencers and friends, including her comedian friend Mindy Kaling and actress Tracee Ellis
The couple’s launch of Meghan’s new company American Rivera Orchard was released in March on the four-year anniversary of their move to California.
American Riviera Orchard’s launch video begins with a video of a woman arranging flowers
The video continues with an image of a woman in a long dress, lit down a hallway
MailOnline has contacted the Sussexes’ representatives.
Earlier this week, Meghan sent 50 jars of jam to a very exclusive group of people.
Parenting campaigner Kelly McKee Zajfen, Argentinian socialite Delfina Balquier and stylist Tracy Robbins are among those who took to Instagram to share the new product.
Meghan’s jam had the American Riviera Orchard logo and ‘Montecito’ underneath – the celebrity enclave in California where she lives with Harry in a £12million mansion.
The price list for the new products has not yet been announced, although it is expected to be a luxury brand. It is registered to sell lifestyle products from recipe books to tablecloths and textiles – and of course jams and marmalades.
The duchesses’ business venture was unveiled in a glitzy video on social media last month, with the new venture coinciding with a new Netflix cooking show starring her.
Insiders told the Mail that the company would become a “lifestyle and cooking brand” that would focus on things Meghan holds dear.
Another added: ‘It’s a lifestyle and cooking brand called American Riviera Orchard. The brand should coincide with the launch of a new cooking show for Netflix.
Prince Harry and Meghan kissed last Friday during the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Florida
Tracy Robbins showed off the strawberry jam in a basket with lemons and added, “Thanks, M!”
Fashion designer Tracy Robbins posted a photo of the jam, with the American Riviera Orchard logo and “Montecito” underneath. The label also had the text ’17 of 50′
‘Meghan will make and sell products such as jam. And at some point there will be a book and a blog etc.’
The new brand will be an extension of her former lifestyle blog The Tig, an insider told America’s Page Six, adding, “She’s been working on this for over a year and it’s all things that are close to her heart.”
It’s fitting that the Duchess’s venture includes cooking and food, something she has shown a passion for in the past.
In 2018, while living in Britain as a working royal, Meghan bonded with Grenfell Tower fire survivors when she joined a community kitchen in the area and had no qualms about helping out preparing meals.
Publicity material made no attempt to conceal Meghan’s royal ties or the purely commercial nature of her brand, with the Instagram profile captioned as ‘by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’.
Meghan’s biographer Tom Bower previously said the initiative conflicts with the Sussexes’ promise to the former queen not to trade their royal connections after the so-called ‘Sandringham Summit’ in 2022.
He told MailOnline: ‘Meghan and Harry promised they would not use their titles as company vehicles and they have broken that understanding. The only solution is for the king to strip the Sussexes of their titles. Hopefully he finds the resilience.”