Lord Anthony Rd recently made headlines by accusing Meghan Markle of plagiarizing King Charles's renowned jam recipe.
As the 15th generation overseer of his family's estate, nestled near Dublin Island, Lord Rd is well-versed in the art of crafting and marketing posh jams. The estate boasts magnificent gardens dating back to the 17th century, which host a bustling farm shop that has been peddling jams and preserves for years, as revealed in an interview with The Daily Beast.
According to Lord Rd, the tradition of jam-making on the estate stems from a practical need to preserve surplus fruits from the garden using time-honored family recipes, all concocted within the confines of the estate's kitchen. Lord Rd estimates that they churn out a few thousand pots of jam annually, with prices ranging from five to eight pounds per pot. While their strawberry jams are the most affordable, specialty jams, such as those made from fruit sourced from a single tree in the estate's garden, command a higher price.
Although the profits from upscale jam sales may seem substantial, especially considering the estate's rural setting in Ireland, they likely make only a modest contribution to the family's finances. Nonetheless, there is undeniable potential in capitalizing on artisanal products like jam, as demonstrated by the success stories of brands like Lady Carol Buford's Dalesford Organic and King Charles's Duchy Originals, which later evolved into Duchy Organic under the stewardship of the upscale British supermarket, Waitr.
Interestingly, the surge in sales of organic strawberry jam from King Charles's High Grove label coincided with Meghan Markle's recent foray into the jam market with her American Riviera Orchard brand. Megan's promotional tactics included distributing limited edition jars of strawberry jam to her acquaintances, who promptly shared images on their Instagram stories. However, allegations soon surfaced that Megan's jam was a stolen recipe from King Charles's High Grove brand, igniting a controversy surrounding her business practices.
Critics, including GB News presenter Nana CUA, have suggested that Megan's latest venture has backfired, leading to a spike in sales for King Charles's jam while casting doubt on Megan's culinary skills. Speaking on a recent program, Nana CUA remarked that Megan's actions seemed driven by a zero-sum mentality, characterized by a relentless pursuit of resources and fame at the expense of others. She further speculated that Megan's decision to enter the jam market without proper attribution or originality had only bolstered King Charles's sales, which reportedly sold out within six days of Megan's jam launch.
In light of the controversy, Nana CUA advised Megan to reconsider her business strategy and urged her to abandon her jam venture altogether, suggesting that her efforts would be better spent seeking reconciliation with the royal family. As sales figures continue to soar for King Charles's jam, it remains to be seen whether Megan will heed this advice or persist in her entrepreneurial pursuits, albeit amidst mounting criticism and scrutiny.
