Meghan Markle's latest business venture has inadvertently given a sales boost to King Charles' own product, it has been reported. The Duchess of Sussex recently unveiled her newest offering - jars of strawberry jam from her freshly launched lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.
She sent 50 of these jars to influencers, including fashion designer Tracy Robbins and Argentine socialite Delfina Balquier, for taste testing. Each jar is hand-numbered from 1-50, but the retail price and release date remain unknown.
However, according to Daily Mail's Royal commentator Richard Eden, Meghan's latest "publicity stunt" has proven beneficial for King Charles. The king sells a variety of preserves and savouries through the Highgrove Shop, which features gifts inspired by his personal interests, his award-winning garden, and Royal memorabilia.
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His Highgrove Organic Strawberry Preserve, priced at £6.95, reportedly sold out on Tuesday, mere hours after Meghan launched her product on Monday. Mr Eden commented: "The Duchess of Sussex's launch of her first product, a jar of strawberry jam, is doing great business - for King Charles."
He added that Meghan's publicity move, where she sent jars of her American Riviera Orchard product to 50 friends and 'influencers', has prompted royalists to buy the King's jam instead, reports the Express.
He said: "Meghan's publicity stunt, in which she sent jars of her American Riviera Orchard product to 50 friends and 'influencers', has encouraged royalists to purchase the King's jam instead. So many of them have done so that Highgrove Organic Strawberry Preserve was 'sold out', according to the retailer's website yesterday, even though 340g jars cost £6.95 each."
But the commentator then took a dig at Meghan, stating that while the King's profits are donated to charity - "Meghan's profits will go to herself".
Charles's Highgrove Organic Strawberry Preserve was back in stock on Thursday morning.
In the meantime, another Royal commentator weighed in on Meghan's latest business "success". Royal author Angela Levin took to Twitter and wrote: "Who would believe it? Meghan's jam has boosted the King's sales, which is now 'sold out.' Perhaps people prefer the profit to go to royal charity than into Meghan's pocked."