Meghan Markle’s close model friend received the Duchess’s American Riviera Orchard strawberry jam.
Kelly McKee Zajfen, 44, co-founder of Alliance of Moms, a nonprofit that supports pregnant teens and teens in the foster care system, took to Instagram to share a photo of the rustic-looking product.
The 44-year-old revealed she was ‘so proud’ of Meghan, who launched the first product from her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard.
Sharing a photo of the jam presented in a bowl of lemons surrounded by flowers, she wrote: ‘Ohhhhhh, just a taste of what’s to come!!! I’m so proud of you, M @americanrivieraorchard.”
The Duchess of Sussex sent friends the limited-edition pot ahead of her brand’s formal launch later this spring with a range of items.
Meghan Markle’s close friend Kelly McKee Zajfen received the Duchess’s American Riviera Orchard strawberry jam
Fashion designer Tracy Robbins and Argentinian socialite Delfina Balquier posted on Instagram yesterday that they each received one of the jars, which PR expert Nick Ede said looked “very homemade with a stylish decal and an almost handwritten brand name.”
Meghan has supported Kelly through the grief of losing her son George, who died aged nine in July 2022 after being found unconscious in their family home.
A close friend of the Zajfen family revealed to DailyMail.com that Kelly’s son George was found ‘unresponsive’ at their family home and that his death had come as a complete shock to his loved ones and parents.
Kelly – who is also mother to George’s twin sister Lily – has herself been open about her grief on Instagram, writing in October last year that she was ‘not really doing well’, telling her followers: ‘The light is every day weak. I’m trying my best. We all do our best. I’m so broken.
“Every day I look for a new way to put the pieces back together and I am fully aware that it may not all fit again.”
Last year, she posted a heartfelt tribute to Meghan on her account, praising the Duchess of Sussex for her support and praising her for being such an “incredible friend and mother.”
“You are always the first to say yes and support the people you love. You are a fierce advocate for those in need,” Kelly continued, sharing a photo of herself and the Duchess of Sussex, both wearing “Community Motherhood” T-shirts, in support of an Alliance of Moms campaign .
Harry and Meghan donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe fundraiser in the names of their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet after the Zajfen family lost George.
Kelly, 44, co-founder of Alliance of Moms, a nonprofit that supports pregnant teens and teens in the foster care system, took to Instagram to share a photo of the rustic-looking product
Last year, Kelly posted a heartfelt tribute to Meghan on her behalf, praising the Duchess of Sussex for her support and praising her for being such an “incredible friend and mother.”
In March, Meghan enjoyed a ski trip with Kelly and another close friend Heather Dorak.
The Duchess was pictured laughing with Pilates entrepreneurs Dorak and Zajfen on the slopes of Powder Mountain near Salt Lake City, Utah, in an Instagram post shared by the Pilates Platinum founder.
The trio have been ‘best friends’ for a long time. Meghan first met Heather in 2005 when the pilates and yoga instructor became the former actress during her time on US legal drama Suits.
Kelly and Meghan, meanwhile, became close through the duchess’s ex-husband Engelson, who is friends with the former model’s entertainment lawyer Julian.
Heather attended Meghan and Harry’s wedding in Windsor in May 2018 with her husband Matt Cohen.
Meghan’s product launch comes amid a trend of celebrities shifting their own food products – with Julianne Moore, Will Ferrell and LeBron James among those selling honey from their own gardens through the Flamingo Estate brand for up to $250 (£200) per jar .
Meghan could have found inspiration from her father-in-law, King Charles III, who started selling products such as jam from the Duchy of Cornwall estate in the 1990s.
Kelly’s nine-year-old son George died after being found ‘unconscious’ in his parental home in 2022
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′
Tracy Robbins showed off the strawberry jam in a basket with lemons and added, “Thanks, M!”
Delfina Balquier also posted a photo on Instagram and said: ‘Strawberry jam makes me happy’
Delfina Balquier’s video also showed the strawberry jam on a piece of bread
Prince William took over the Duchy’s estate following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and the Duchy’s organic strawberry jam is on sale at Waitrose for £2.80 a jar. Sales from the full range will raise £30 million for the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund.
Ms Robbins posted a photo of Meghan’s jam, with the American Riviera Orchard logo and ‘Montecito’ underneath – the celebrity enclave in California where Harry and Meghan live in a £12million home. The label also contained the text ’17 of 50′.
The photo on Ms. Robbins’ Instagram Stories showed jam in her hand, and she said, “@AmericanRivieraOrchard Breakfast, lunch and dinner just got a little sweeter.”
Mrs Robbins showed him off in a basket of lemons and added: ‘Thank you for the lovely basket! I absolutely love this jam so I’m not sure I’ll share it with anyone. @American RivieraOrchard Thanks, M! #MontecitoGoodness #AmericanRivieraOrchard.”
Ms Balquier posted a similar photo to her Stories, saying: ‘Strawberry jam makes me happy. And I love your jam, @AmericanRivieraOrchard.” Her label read: ’10 of 50.’
The post also showed some of the jam on a piece of bread.
Delfina Blaquier with her husband Nacho Figueras alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during the Royal Salute Polo Challenge for Sentebale in Wellington, Florida, last Friday
Meghan’s fans are hugely excited by the launch, with one tweeting: ‘I don’t eat much jam but for you Meg I’ll buy some. Hubby and kids will eat them on my behalf.”
Another added: ‘I remember learning to make jam in cooking class, so much fun and all so delicious! I just know that Meghan is absolutely loving this new era with ARO, with support from her amazing friends like Delfina.”
And a third said: ‘It’s all in the details, the ARO logo embroidery on the jam cover is beautiful.’
The Duchess is expected to officially launch American Riviera Orchard later this spring, with a source telling People magazine last week: ‘Meghan thinks the name American Riviera Orchard is perfect. It feels authentic to her.
‘She can’t wait for the website to be launched. She is excited about her latest personal venture. This is something she has wanted to do for a while. She is excited to share her style and the things she loves.”
It comes after the Duchess launched her new business venture on March 14 with an Instagram teaser.
A vintage-style video of Meghan cooking and arranging white hydrangeas and roses was posted to American Riviera Orchard’s new Instagram account.
The short video is set to Nancy Wilson’s I Wish You Love and concludes with the brand’s logo written in delicate gold script above the word “Montecito.”
Limited information has been released about American Riviera Orchard, but a trademark application filed on February 2 of this year shows the company plans to offer downloadable and printed recipe books, tablecloths, textiles, jams and marmalades, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. website.
Just three hours after the first post, the account had 100,000 followers – a figure that has now risen to 592,000.
Meghan has not had an Instagram account since the Sussexes stepped back from royal life four years ago.
They previously had a joint account @sussexroyal, but announced they would stop posting in March 2020.