Meghan Markle has firmly stated today that she does not consider herself an influencer while promoting her high-stakes Netflix cooking show.
Ahead of the debut of With Love, Meghan, the 43-year-old Duchess shared that working on the eight-episode series has allowed her to ‘rediscover herself’ once more.
Despite boasting an impressive two million followers online, she sees herself as a ‘female founder’ and ‘entrepreneur’ rather than a typical influencer.
Her Netflix culinary series is set to premiere tomorrow morning alongside the launch of a complementary merchandise collection, As Ever.
In an interview with People magazine, the Duchess of Sussex reiterated that she does not identify as a social media personality.
“I consider myself an entrepreneur and a female founder, and if the brand becomes influential, that’s a bonus,” she told the publication.
Meanwhile, Meghan shared insights into her family life in California, revealing that her five-year-old son, Archie, lovingly reminds her, “Mama, don’t work too hard.”
“It was the most heartwarming thing,” the Duchess added as she reflected on her little one’s sweet words of advice.
Meghan shares her thoughts ahead of her new Netflix show’s debut on Tuesday. Seen here gracing the cover of People magazine.
Meghan Markle has today emphasized that she is not an influencer during a deeply personal interview to promote her high-stakes cooking show on Netflix.
Meghan is shown alongside her husband, Prince Harry, who is expected to make a short cameo in the final episode of her Netflix series.
The Sussexes are seen together in a family photo ahead of the program’s premiere.
In her interview, Meghan also shared how the Sussex title has become ‘part of our love story’ with Prince Harry.
She explained that filming her new show had allowed her to reconnect with her creativity and even reignited ‘a spark’ in Harry’s eyes.
“It’s almost like a honeymoon phase again, just like in the early days when he would watch me jotting down notes, writing newsletters, perfecting edits, and truly immersing myself in the details,” she told People magazine.
“I think he enjoys watching as much as I love engaging in that creative process. It’s just been enjoyable. This is who I’ve always been.”
Before meeting Prince Harry, the former Suits star ran The Tig, a lifestyle blog focused on food, travel, and wellness.
However, as her relationship with Harry grew more serious, Meghan shut down the site in 2017 and later deleted her Instagram upon officially joining the royal family.
She shared that Harry—who makes only a brief appearance in the final episode of With Love, Meghan—has been thrilled to see her reconnect with her creative passions.
“I notice this spark in his eyes when he watches me doing what I loved when we first met,” she told People.
She describes a serene family life in their £11 million Montecito home, where she, Harry, Archie, and three-year-old Lilibet slow-cook berries from their garden.
The Duchess also spoke about embracing their Montecito community, recently hosting neighboring families for a casual gathering.
“We hosted a little camp because winter break was so long,” she told People, describing how she and Harry organized obstacle courses and face-painting stations.
“We spent several days with different families at our house, and it gave us a chance to connect with the parents more, while the kids could have fun… It was a dream.”
However, Meghan is quick to clarify that she is no ‘tradwife’ – short for ‘traditional wife’ – and enjoys unwinding with a Chinese takeaway.
With Love, Meghan arrives on Netflix Tuesday morning, offering a glimpse of a new side to the Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan’s upcoming eight-part series will showcase her preparing meals for friends, arranging flowers, and demonstrating how to host intimate gatherings.
Meghan will be joined by some of her celebrity friends in the new show. In this shot, she’s seen with Suits co-star Abigail Spencer.
Meghan opened up about her family life in the article, posing alongside the Sussexes’ beloved beagle, Gus.
The eight-part series was filmed inside a stunning $8 million (£5 million) mansion on a vast estate, just two miles from the couple’s Montecito home.
Designed to reveal a different side of the Duchess, the show comes amid speculation that it may be a final attempt to secure Meghan and Harry’s $100 million Netflix deal, according to royal sources.
Since signing the massive contract in 2020, the couple has had one major hit and three underwhelming projects, leading to rumors that Netflix could reconsider their partnership.
Their docuseries Harry & Meghan became the platform’s biggest documentary launch, reaching nearly 29 million households in just four days and making waves worldwide.
Shows like Polo, the sports docuseries Live to Lead—which highlighted ‘global justice activists’—and Heart of Invictus, centered on Harry’s games for injured soldiers, were underwhelming additions that failed to ignite the streaming service’s viewership.
With Love, Meghan will showcase the duchess in an attempt to rebrand herself, following her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, as a ‘domestic goddess’—baking cakes, arranging flowers, and donning a beekeeper suit to gather honey.
In the trailers, Meghan is seen cooking, baking, mixing cocktails, arranging flowers, and planning parties in a kitchen featuring a £15,000 stove, £600 pans, £60 chopping boards, while hosting friends in the property’s beautiful rooms, garden, and orchards.
However, in Los Angeles, sources claim the Sussexes’ relationship with Netflix may be nearing its end, with reports that they’ve been difficult to collaborate with.
“The word going around internally is ‘nightmare,’” one insider told The Sunday Times, while another previously told MailOnline: “This is make or break for Meghan.”
In a scene from With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex is seen chopping vegetables alongside Chef Roy Choi before the two share a celebratory high-five.
Meghan is seen using edible plants as she adds the final touches to one of her desserts.
It was revealed last week through trademark filings that the Duchess plans to market biscuit and pancake mixes under her newly rebranded lifestyle company, As Ever.
On February 18, Meghan announced the renaming of her venture from its previous title, American Riviera Orchard, which she felt limited her to locally produced goods.
It was also revealed that a new application was filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office on the same day, outlining a range of products she plans to sell under the As Ever brand.
The list included items set to rival major brands like Betty Crocker and Dr. Oetker, such as ‘mixes for bakery goods; cookie mixes; biscuit mixes; crepe mixes’.
These fall under international trademark class 30, which covers food products.
The application was filed by 2022 Trademarks LLC, a company set up by Meghan’s team.
Last year, the Duchess introduced her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, with a soft launch, gifting 50 jars of jam to friends.
Meghan, holding hands with her daughter Lilibet, graces the cover photo for her new brand’s website.
The jam Meghan gifted to her celebrity friends was shared under the earlier name of her lifestyle brand.
Harry and Meghan also appointed a new chief of communications, just days before the Duchess’s highly anticipated Netflix show launches on Tuesday.
The ‘American Riviera’ is a nickname for Santa Barbara, where Meghan lives with her husband Prince Harry and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
However, US officials informed Meghan that geographical locations couldn’t be trademarked, meaning she couldn’t use that name for her brand—leading to the switch to ‘As Ever’.
Meghan confirmed the name change in a video posted to her Instagram on February 18, which was shared with her 2.2 million followers.
She also revealed that Netflix is not just the streaming platform for her upcoming series, but also a partner in her business.
Meghan playfully referenced the first product her brand launched last year—a limited-edition jar of strawberry jam—telling viewers, “Of course, there will be fruit preserves. I think it’s pretty clear by now that jam is my jam.”
“But there are so many more products I love and use in my home, and now it’s time to share them with you. I can’t wait for you to see it,” she added.
At the start of the video, Harry’s voice could be heard in the background, saying, “It’s recording.”
Another clip from the show shows Meghan in a full beekeeper’s outfit as she collects honey.
The Duchess then teased tomorrow’s Netflix release, saying: “In two weeks, my show is launching, which I’m so excited about, and also my business, which I know has sparked a lot of curiosity.”
“Last year, I thought, ‘You know what, American Riviera, that sounds like a perfect name, it’s my neighborhood, a nickname for Santa Barbara’—but it confined me to things that were only manufactured or grown here.”
“Then Netflix came on board, not only as my partner for the show but also as my business partner, which was huge.”
A trademark application for As Ever was initially filed in October 2022, before being dropped in favor of American Riviera Orchard, it was reported.
After the American Riviera Orchard trademark application was rejected, a new filing for As Ever was submitted last September, covering items like downloadable and printed recipe books, tableware, textiles, and preserves such as jams and marmalades.
Meghan shared with her Instagram followers: “As Ever essentially means ‘as it’s always been.’ If you’ve been following me since 2014 with The Tig, you know I’ve always had a passion for cooking, crafting, and gardening.
“This is what I love, and I haven’t been able to share it with you in the same way for the past few years—but now I can.”
Her former lifestyle blog, The Tig, had been a space where she not only discussed travel, food, and fashion but also highlighted social issues like gender equality. However, she shut it down in May 2018 before marrying into the royal family.
The name change appeared to potentially involve Meghan in a legal dispute with the owner of an independent New York retailer, also called As Ever.
Mark Kolski, the designer and owner of the vintage clothing studio As Ever NYC, shared that he was left “reeling” upon hearing that Meghan would relaunch her company under the same name as his own clothing brand.
However, after considering his options, the 58-year-old announced last week that he no longer planned to take legal action.
He told the New York News: “I’m not trying to launch any legal attack here.”
“Right now, I’m just going back to work, and I’m focused on keeping awareness of my brand. If any conflict eventually arises that impacts my business, I’ll assess that then.”
Mr. Kolski mentioned speaking with his brother, a lawyer, who advised him that he had “some rights” – but ultimately decided against pursuing any legal action.
Meghan’s cooking and entertaining show is finally set to launch on Netflix this Tuesday, after its original January release was delayed due to the Los Angeles wildfires.
