Meghan Markle appears to be trying her hardest to reinvent the wheel—but unfortunately for her, it’s already been done.
This time, the Duchess of Sussex has turned her focus to promoting her latest venture, With Love, Meghan, a lifestyle series that officially launched on January 15th. However, if you’ve been paying even a shred of attention to royal-adjacent media over the past decade, you’ll immediately recognize something strikingly familiar about her new “elevated lifestyle” brand. It’s not exactly groundbreaking—rather, it seems to be a rehash of Pippa Middleton’s 2012 book Celebrate.
Pippa Middleton, younger sister of Catherine, Princess of Wales, rose to international fame following her starring role as maid of honor at the 2011 royal wedding between her sister and Prince William. While many remember her for that famous form-fitting dress, Pippa’s post-wedding endeavors included publishing Celebrate, a guide to British traditions, holiday festivities, and upscale entertaining. At the time, people were enamored with her charm and association with royalty, so her move into lifestyle content felt both natural and authentic.
In Celebrate, Pippa shared tips on hosting quintessential British celebrations—from Bonfire Night to Christmas—complete with recipes and party-planning advice. She was reportedly paid a £400,000 advance for her effort. While some of her tips—such as instructions on how to make ice cubes—were mocked for being comically obvious, the public’s response was far from harsh. Unlike Meghan, Pippa wasn’t lambasted for her efforts. Why? She had a legitimate background in event planning, having worked in her family’s business, Party Pieces, and established her credentials long before stepping into the spotlight as an author. Despite the critiques, Pippa was widely viewed as sweet, charming, and, most importantly, harmless.
Fast forward to 2025, and Meghan seems to be working from a suspiciously similar playbook, but with far less success. Her With Love, Meghan aims to blend the glamour of luxury living with California-inspired zen, yet the result is a confusing mishmash of mismatched aesthetics. She serves up extravagant dinner parties with ornate china sets juxtaposed against casual beachy vibes, leaving viewers wondering if they’re tuning into a Martha Stewart-esque production or a brand built on personal nostalgia. The problem is, Meghan lacks the authentic connection to the world of refined British entertaining that Pippa embodied.
Whereas Pippa’s insights drew from genuine socialite experiences and long-standing traditions, Meghan’s foray into lifestyle branding feels contrived. We’ve already heard every anecdote she’s shared about her childhood a dozen times—soap commercial and all—but none of it connects her to a heritage of hosting grand soirées or participating in high-society customs. Her brand lacks depth and cohesiveness; one moment, it’s California casual, and the next, it’s a tableau of candelabras and canapés.
The starkest difference between the two women, however, lies in their public personas and the all-important “likability” factor. Pippa Middleton’s charm is effortless. She radiates warmth with a twinkle in her eye and a natural, genuine smile that never feels forced. Even with her ties to the royal family, she has always come across as down-to-earth and approachable. Meghan, by contrast, often appears overly polished and painfully self-conscious, as though she’s trying too hard to convince everyone—herself included—that she belongs in the luxury lifestyle space.
Pippa quietly built a life of competence and substance. She’s run marathons, earned a master’s degree while raising three children, and carved out a respectable place in high society—all without needing endless PR campaigns or constant drama to sustain her relevance. Meghan, meanwhile, continues to cling to her royal connections, frequently generating headlines more for controversy than for actual achievements. Pippa moved on gracefully; Meghan, it seems, is still trying to relive her royal moment in the spotlight.
Ultimately, With Love, Meghan comes across as little more than a copycat version of Celebrate, but with far less authenticity and a far more awkward execution. If Pippa’s lifestyle guide was like watching a seasoned host offer tips with a wink and a smile, Meghan’s effort feels more like a student copying notes from a classmate, hoping no one notices the striking similarities.
