Meghan Markle stars as an intern who stacks boxes and makes brews in a bizarre new ad for coffee company Clevr

Meghan Markle stars as background figures in a bizarre Instagram ad from a coffee company in which she owns shares.

The Duchess of Sussex stars in Clevr Blends' latest commercial as an intern stacking boxes, making hot drinks and working on a computer in the digital department.

Comically, she fails to bump another member of the team with her fist in the final shot as she walks away from the camera, causing everyone to burst out laughing before the video ends.

Markle, who has been an investor in the trendy oat latte brand since 2020, is an extra in the ad as CEO and co-founder Hannah Mendoza walks through the company's headquarters and thanks the team for all their hard work in 2023.

Clever Blends posted the video to Instagram today with the caption: 'Damn, you're keeping us BUSY now! I had to call in some reinforcements.

'So grateful for the outpouring of love and support this year – thank you for helping us keep the latte-loving dream alive and thriving!xo'

Markle, 42, confirmed in December 2020 that she had invested an undisclosed amount in Clevr Brands, which has a line of powdered lattes.

And around that time, the former senior royal used her connections to promote the company, which was founded in January 2019 and is run by CEO Hannah Mendoza, by sending a basket of products to her neighbor Oprah Winfrey, who shared the products online.

While the Duchess visited the company and shared a short video of her trip to Instagram earlier this year, with footage of herself sipping a cup of the hot stuff, she has remained fairly silent about the investment for the past three years.

She shared a glowing five-star review of the line in November. The former cable actress posted a photo of herself hugging Mendoza and wrote of the series, “One of my favorite ways to start and end every day.”

Clevr is based in Santa Barbara, California. Meghan came across it by apparently tasting its superfood coffee in 2017, when the founder sold it at a pop-up shop before creating the at-home blend she now sells.

It also happens to be located near Montecito, where Harry and Meghan live.

In a statement to Fortune confirming the investment in 2019, Meghan said: “This investment is to support a passionate female entrepreneur who prioritizes building community alongside her business.

“I'm proud to invest in Hannah's commitment to sourcing ethical ingredients and creating a product that I personally love and that takes a holistic approach to wellness. I believe in her and I believe in her company.”

Confirming Meghan's investment, Mendoza said: “Entrepreneurs need financing, but they also need advisors who care deeply about what they build. I am grateful to have found both in the Duchess of Sussex.

“Her passion for what we create is palpable, and I can't imagine a more aligned collaboration. We are excited about the road ahead.”

Comically, she fails to fist bump another member of the team in the final shot as she walks away from the camera, causing everyone to burst out laughing before the video ends.

Markle missed a fist bump with another character in the ad

Markle, who has invested in the trendy oat latte brand since 2020, is an extra in the ad as CEO and co-founder Hannah Mendoza walks through the company's headquarters and thanks the team for all their hard work in 2023

Clever Blends posted the video to Instagram with the caption: 'Damn, you're keeping us BUSY now! I had to call in some reinforcements

Meghan's support of the brand marked her first public investment since she and Harry left royal life in 2020 to pursue a private life and seek “financial independence” from the royal family.

Meghan's support of the brand marked her first public investment since she and Harry left royal life in 2020 to pursue a private life and seek “financial independence” from the royal family.

According to the Clevr Brands website, the company is a “mission-driven, female-led wellness brand based in coastal California.” Hannah, the CEO, previously worked at another superfood snack company. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2014, but it is unclear how old she is.

A post written by co-founder Hannah says: 'We had humble beginnings: my co-founder and I started a pop-up adaptogenic coffee shop in 2016.

'We traveled through the US and waxed lyrical about the magic of plants. People listened, they felt better in their body and mind, and to make those feelings more accessible, we created Clevr.'