Charity forced to wade into Meghan Markle row after huge backlash

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Meghan launched her new website last month (Image: GETTY)

A UK-based foodbank charity has been forced to wade into a Meghan Markle row after huge backlash.

The website for Meghan's new brand - American Riviera Orchard - appears to have been hacked as the UK domain name for the new brand links directly to The Trussell Trust.

Meghan's website is americanrivieraorchard.com but the homepage of americanrivieraorchard.uk - which appears to have been bought by an anonymous buyer - reads in capitals: "Forgiveness Permission. Please donate to The Trussell Trust". A "Donate to The Trussell Trust" link then shows which brings up a JustGiving page with a target of £1,000.

According to the Mirror, the page also read: "This is not Meghan but hopefully Meghan wouldn't mind. thoughts with Catherine, Princess of Wales and His Majesty, the King."

Exceeding its target, the page has now raised more than £23,000 - as of the morning of Wednesday, April 24.

Calls have now been made to The Trussell Trust - a charity which supports a nationwide network of food banks - to disassociate themselves from fundraiser due to fears that it is mocking the Duchess of Sussex.

Taking to X, the charity wrote in response 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."

Speaking at a public engagement last week, Sophie Carre - the director of the charity - 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."

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