'I’m very confused by Meghan Markle’s jam rollout.'

Meghan Markle is making some odd decisions when it comes to her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. 

Over the weekend, the Duchess of Sussex released a new flavour of jam: this time raspberry.

Yummo! Right? I can’t wait to try this ex-royal’s raspberry spread. Cottee's is shaking.

Well… we have bad news. She only made two jars of it.

One of the jars was sent to Prince Harry’s mate Nacho Figueras, who shared Meghan’s PR package on his socials, which included some exclusive dog biscuits... which sounds like a weird thing to dip in jam tbh.

You do you, Nacho. Image: Instagram/@nachofigueras. 

However, written on the outside of American Riviera Orchard’s jar of raspberry jam was marked '2 of 2', which suggests this was an especially limited drop. 

Meghan, what kind of sales strategy is this only making two jars of a new product? Make it make sense. 

It's been two months since Megan released her first jam batch (a strawberry flavour) — although she only sent that batch of 50 to celebrities. What is happening? What about us lowly people who want to eat the Duchess' jam?? 

This confusion follows Meghan Markle and the royals getting into a bit of a jam back in April. 

Or shall we say a jam-off (I could go all day). That's one family's jam versus another in the ultimate royal rumble. 

Okay, let's go to the start of this saga.

Meghan Markle's jam saga, explained.

In April, Markle announced that her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard (yes, I had to Google that) was releasing its first range of items: a line of fresh strawberry jam. Lovely. Nothing to see here. Jam on, Duchess. 

BUT! A few days later, Buckingham Palace's Shop posted a video on Instagram to promote THEIR OWN line of strawberry preserve. 

This is berry shady, no? 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Buckingham Palace Shop (@buckinghampalaceshop)

The timing of the video was taken as a clear attack on the Duchess and her jam. 

I don't think she was ready for this jelly...

"Is it just me that loves the subtle shade?" wrote one commenter on Instagram. 

"Why buy an imposter when you can have the real royal strawberry jam!" wrote another.

So how do these jams compare? 

This is the royal jam. It comes in a simple jar.

Image: Highgrove. 

To be honest, this isn't quite what I'd expect the royals to be reppin', as it looks like any old mass-produced spread that you'd find forgotten in the back corner of your fridge, plus the jam itself doesn't look particularly gourmet. 

This is Meghan Markle's jam, which she has delivered to a limited number of celebrities. 

The American Riviera Orchard's jam looks FANCY. It has an adorable little hat on it so you know it's better than you and the label looks expensive, even if it does appear like it's already peeling off on the right side (I won't tell, Megz). 

Image: Instagram. 

The Duchess of Sussex sent out 50 pots of the American Riviera Orchard preserve and the recipients included Kris Jenner, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Mindy Kaling. 

Each pot was labelled with a number and for those playing at home: the Kardashian fam got 13.

Image: Instagram/@krisjenner.

While not all 50 recipients have posted their wares, New York Post speculated that Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres and Serena Williams were all gifted a jar too.

The jam is just one part of Markle's American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand, which was launched in March. 

The brand was initially mocked as sounding a little too pretentious, and I will admit that I once referred to it as Oak Tree Renaissance because it had a similar boujee word salad vibe. 

But the name is a nod to Markle and Prince Harry's new home in Santa Barbara, California which is nicknamed the 'American Riviera', apparently. 

Mystery still surrounds exactly what the brand will make as ARO's website is still blank and only offers visitors the chance to sign up to its mailing list. Based on a trademark application, the brand will sell makeup, haircare, fragrances, skincare, tableware, kitchen linens, and edible treats such as jams and spreads.

The jam line is the first confirmed product from the brand, but the timing of the launch left a sour taste in some people's mouths. 

You know what would help that? Some sweet, strawberry jam. 

'Just take a little jam, I won't mind...' Image: Getty. 

But I digress, Markle announced the jam line the same month that Kate Middleton confirmed she was receiving treatment for cancer after a period of taking a break from royal duties. 

This followed King Charles' confirmation in February that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer. 

In Meghan Markle's defence, it's rare that she does anything right in her critics' eyes.

Considering she's been estranged from the royal family for years, it seems like a big ask for her to pause her brand's rollout (which has likely been in the works for months) because of her husband's family health.  

Markle has a long and bitter history with the royal family, with rumours of a feud between herself and Middleton and accusations of her being rude to staff all leading up to herself and Prince Harry deciding to step down from senior royal duties in 2020. 

In the years since, the couple hasn't been shy about their negative experiences with The Firm, revealing disturbing claims about their royal wedding and the birth of their first son Archie, which was outlaid in an Oprah interview, Netflix special and Harry's memoir, Spare. 

The jam war was probably another return serve from the royals, who show no sign of calling a ceasefire between the feuding families — look no further than the royal website literally writing the Sussexes out of their history.

But hey, if the royals can't spread the love, they can at least spread some jam. 

Feature image: Getty/Instagram

This article was originally published on April 29, 2024 and has since been updated with new information.