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8 months ago
23
The Duchess of Sussex's new American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand has been hijacked by what appears to be a Princess Kate fan.
While the American web link takes you to the Duchess' website for her business venture, the UK domain name has been purchased by someone who has linked it to a food bank and message saying 'thoughts with Catherine'.
Fans clicking on the link 'americanriveriaorchard.uk' will be taken to a page asking for donations for the UK-based charity - and discover a very pointed message.
While the home page states 'Forgiveness. Permission. Please donate to the Trussell Trust', clicking on this will lead to a Just Giving fundraiser for the Trussell Trust charity.
'not Meghan. hope Meghan wouldn't mind. thoughts with catherine X,' the cryptic message reads.
Did YOU buy the domain name? Email eirian.prosser@dailymail.co.uk
Those visiting the site ending in 'americanriveriaorchard.uk', however, will be met with a Just Giving page for the Trussell Trust
The Just Giving page story has a cryptic message on it that reads: 'Not Meghan. Hope Meghan wouldn't mind. Thoughts with Catherine x'
The UK domain name for Meghan Markle's new business, American Riviera Orchard, has been bought up. Pictured: Kate and Meghan during Wimbledon in 2018
Those wanting to visit her new website 'americanriveria.com', will be led to a flash page asking fans to join a wait list
The message of support to the Princess of Wales comes after she revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer last month and was undergoing chemotherapy.
As soon as users open the website they are met with the cryptic words 'forgiveness' and 'permission' before encouraging people to 'please donate to the Trussell Trust'.
It seems unlikely that the domain was bought by Meghan's representatives with those who have donated suggesting a Good Samaritan was responsible for buying up the domain.
The Trussell Trust confirmed to MailOnline that it did not set up the webpage and had been unaware of the donation site.
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 have no knowledge of who set it up.'
So far the spoof page has raised £56 out of its £1,000 target with one US-based donator writing: 'I am happy to support from across the pond and am glad to know of this organization through the link on the American Riviera Orchards website.'
Another added: 'A really good way of bringing attention to the great work they do.'
The Duchess (pictured last week) soft launched the first product of her new lifestyle brand this week, sending influencers and friends a jar of jam, including her comedian pal Mindy Kaling and actress Tracee Ellis
The couple's launch of Meghan's new business American Rivera Orchard was released in March on the four year anniversary of them moving to California
The American Riviera Orchard launch video starts with a video of a woman arranging flowers
The video continues with an image of a woman in a long dress, backlit through a corridor
MailOnline has contacted the Sussexes' representatives.
Earlier this week Meghan sent 50 jars of jam to a very exclusive group of people.
Parenting campaigner Kelly McKee Zajfen, Argentine socialite Delfina Balquier and stylist Tracy Robbins are amongst those who took to Instagram to share the new product.
The price list for the new products has not been revealed yet although it is expected to be a luxury brand. It is registered to sell lifestyle products from recipe books to table wear and textiles - and of course, jams and marmalade.
The Duchesses' business venture was revealed in a glitzy social media video last month, with the new venture set to coincide with a new Netflix cookery show featuring her.
Insiders told the Mail the business was set to be a 'lifestyle and cooking brand' which would focus on things Meghan holds dear.
Another added: 'It's a lifestyle and cooking brand called American Riviera Orchard. The brand is meant to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show for Netflix.
Prince Harry and Meghan kiss at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Florida last Friday
Showing the strawberry jam in a basket with lemons, Tracy Robbins added: 'Thank you, M!'
Fashion designer Tracy Robbins posted a picture of the jam, which had the logo for American Riviera Orchard and 'Montecito' underneath. The label also had the words '17 of 50'
'Meghan will be making, and selling, products such as jams. And at some point there will be a book and blog etc.'
The new brand is set to be an extension of her former lifestyle blog The Tig, an insider told America's Page Six, adding: 'She's been working on this for over a year and it's all the things that are close to her heart.'
It is fitting that the Duchess's venture will feature cooking and food, which is something she has shown a passion for in the past.
In 2018 when she was living in the UK as a working royal, Meghan bonded with survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire when she joined a community kitchen in the area and had no qualms with pitching in to help create meals.
Publicity materials have made no attempts to hide Meghan's royal links or her brand's nakedly commercial nature, with its Instagram profile including the caption 'by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex'.
Meghan's biographer Tom Bower said previously that the initiative flies in the face of the Sussexes' vow to the former Queen not to trade off their royal connections following the so-called 'Sandringham Summit' in 2022.
He told MailOnline: 'Meghan and Harry promised they would not use their titles as commercial vehicles and they have broken that understanding. The only solution is for the King to strip the Sussexes of their titles. Hopefully he will find the resilience.'
English (US)