Another rebrand, another wave of confusion and overpriced nonsense. This time, the focus is on a lifestyle brand that seems to be trying far too hard to convince people to pay $20 for tea and pancake mix.
The idea being pushed is that people should spend ten times the normal price for ingredients they could easily find in their own pantry. But wait—there's more. A leaked testing page, which supposedly went live just before Meghan's new Netflix series aired, revealed some of the so-called "luxury goods" that were in store for her loyal fan base. We're talking about pancake mix, hibiscus tea, flower sprinklers, and limited edition raspberry spread—all priced at a completely absurd $25 per item. Clearly, Meghan believes people enjoy being overcharged for things that could be bought at a supermarket for a fraction of the price.
Then, in a curious turn of events, Highgrove Gardens, the beloved property tied to King Charles, just happened to post a charming message on social media for Pancake Day. They showcased their own range of honey and jam, with a message about how they were celebrating the day. "How are you celebrating Pancake Day? We're topping our pancakes with delicious Highgrove Royal Garden honey, raspberries, and a dusting of icing sugar. Taste the magic. Make your Highgrove pancakes at home with our range of honey and jam toppings." Subtle, but what a perfect coincidence. The timing was almost too precise, as Highgrove—an established, high-quality British brand—was promoting actual products for sale on the same day Meghan's overpriced pancake mix leaked online. The irony is truly delicious.
Of course, Meghan’s supporters would argue that the royal family is out to get her—always watching, always plotting. But here’s the thing: The royal family, and anyone with common sense, likely doesn't care about her endless attempts to reinvent herself as a lifestyle guru. Highgrove Gardens has been selling its range of teas, jams, and honeys for years. They didn’t suddenly decide to troll Meghan Markle. They were simply doing what they’ve always done—offering quality goods that people actually want to buy. And that's the real burn. While Meghan scrambles to piece together a business that makes sense, a true heritage brand like Highgrove effortlessly demonstrates what actual success looks like. Highgrove doesn’t need a testing page or mysterious price tags; it doesn't need to pretend to be something it’s not. It just offers genuine, well-loved products that people flock to.
Meanwhile, the "As Ever" brand continues to flounder. Why are some product labels handwritten and others typed? Why does the branding look like it belongs on bargain bin soap? Most importantly, why does it all feel like an uninspired, expensive knockoff of brands that already exist? Let’s not overlook the irony here: Meghan, who has spent years branding the British royal family as the villains in her story, is now blatantly copying British heritage branding—the tradition, the elegance, the prestige. Everything she supposedly wanted to escape is now the very aesthetic she’s desperately trying to adopt for her own brand. If she truly wanted to distance herself from the monarchy, why is she so eager to replicate their branding strategies, albeit unsuccessfully?
At this point, it’s almost predictable. Meghan will hype up the brand, the PR machine will go into overdrive, and soon enough, we’ll see the same cycle repeat itself: overpriced items, no real strategy, and a quiet retreat once the buzz dies down. The only question left is how long this one will last before it gets scrapped for yet another rebrand.
