Backlash over Meghan website forces foodbank charity to issue statement

Image: UK Press via Getty Images)

A UK-based foodbank charity has issued a statement following backlash after it was linked to Meghan Markle's new lifestyle brand website American Riviera Orchard.

The brand appears to have been hijacked by a mystery royal fan as the UK domain name for the new brand now directs to a page fundraising for food bank network The Trussell Trust that includes a message supporting the Princess of Wales as well as now King Charles.

Meghan's US site is americanrivieraorchard.com, but the home page of americanrivieraorchard.uk, which seems to have been bought by an anonymous buyer reads in capitals: "Forgiveness. Permission. Please donate to The Trussell Trust."

Image:

A "Donate to the Trussell Trust" link brings up a JustGiving page with a target of £1,000 which reads: "this is not meghan but hopefully meghan wouldn't mind. thoughts with catherine, princess of wales and his majesty the king. x." The link has received a flurry of donations, expressing praise for Kate and the Trust with messages such as: "We Stand With Catherine", and: "Just love what you did here!"

The fundraising page has exceeded its target, now with more than £23,000 raised, as of Wednesday morning. However, some on social media called for the Trussell Trust - which supports a nationwide network of food banks, providing emergency food and support to people facing hardship - to disassociate itself from the fund-raiser, claiming it mocks the Duchess of Sussex.

However, taking to X, formerly Twitter, the charity wrote in reply to one person's criticism: "We are not associated with the website domain. We weren't aware of the website prior to it going live and have not had any direct contact with the person who set it up.

"As the website clearly states this is a fundraiser in aid of us, it would not meet the Charity Commission's requirements to be categorised as fraudulent. In line with the Commission's guidance, we are unable to reject donations unless they meet specific requirements."

Image:

Meanwhile, last week Sophie Carre, director of public engagement at the Trussell Trust, said: "The Trussell Trust are grateful to people who put their time and energy into supporting our work to end the need for food banks in the UK. The charity is not connected with this website domain and has no knowledge of who set it up."

Last month Meghan revealed her brand new website and Instagram account for her lifestyle brand and business venture American Riviera Orchard. The social media page was launched with a vintage-style video of Meghan cooking and arranging white hydrangeas and roses.

The brief video is set to Nancy Wilson's I Wish You Love and closes with the brand's logo, American Riviera Orchard, written in fine gold script above the word Montecito - a celebrity enclave near Santa Barbara in California where she and Prince Harry live.

Little information has been released about American Riviera Orchard, but a trademark application filed on February 2 this year shows the company wishes to offer downloadable and printed recipe books, tablewear, textiles, and jams and marmalades, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office website.

However, last week Meghan carried out a soft launch of the first product from her new business venture, sending her friends a limited edition jar of strawberry jam. Fashion designer Tracy Robbins posted two images of the jam jar, which the duchess sent nestled in a basket of lemons. Her jar was numbered "17 of 50" and she posted an image of the gift on her Instagram account with the words "Breakfast, lunch and dinner just got a little sweeter."

Delfina Blaquier, the wife of Harry's good friend, Argentine polo player Nacho Figueras, who took part in the event, also posted on Instagram after sampling the gift. Her jam was labelled "10 of 50" and she posted picture a picture of it spread on bread and another of the jar being held, with the the words "Strawberry jam makes me happy. And I love your jam…"