Royal expert Jennie Bond has claimed that Meghan Markle has "the right" to use her Duchess of Sussex title after she faced criticism for her new lifestyle brand.
Meghan launched her brand, American Riviera Orchard, and in a video shared on Instagram, the duchess is seen picking flowers and cooking in a kitchen with “I Wish You Love” by Nancy Wilson playing in the background.
The duchess has been criticised for two things with the lifestyle launch. One is for launching the brand just hours before William and Harry were due to speak at the Diana Legacy Award event in London.
The other is for using her royal title, as it says on the page: "Meghan, Duchess of Sussex."
Meghan has launched a new lifestyle brand called American Riviera OrchardReutersSpeaking to GB News, Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond defended the 42-year-old, saying: "I personally don't think it was deliberate on Meghan's part. You know, she probably would get criticised whenever she launched it because there are a lot of other royal events going on all over the place.
"There's suggestions that it was to upstage William. Harry was very much involved in these awards as well, and I'm sure she didn't want to upstage her own husband.
"Good for her for launching this, this new venture. It's exactly what she should be doing, I think.
"Good on her for launching something that is very genuinely her, she says. I think it is her forte. Her previous venture, The Tig, her Instagram account was a huge success and I think this will be a huge success.
"She is a very artistic, clever woman. Um, she wants to make her own money and this is a very legitimate way of doing it."
Jennie Bond defended the Duchess
GB News
When asked about the use of her royal title Bond said: "She is the Duchess of Sussex and she has every right to use that title.
"I do have an opinion that if they dislike most of the most of what the monarchy is about and royalty perhaps it would be advisable not to use that title, but it is her right.
"Obviously it's going to be commercially valuable to her. So I think it's just always criticising Meghan, whatever she does."
According to a report from Page Six, Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard will focus on home, garden, food, and general lifestyle content.
The lifestyle brand was launched on Instagram yesterday
GettyThe brand will also reportedly sell a variety of home goods, such as cookbooks, foods, and kitchenware.
The Instagram post also marks Meghan’s return to social media after she deactivated her personal account upon joining the Royal Family.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said he felt the timing of Meghan's launch was "no accident".
He said: "The Sussexes, in my opinion, do nothing by accident and timing is often absolutely pivotal.
"We found that out one way over the weekend and we've now just been reminded that there may be more shots in their locker than some of us thought. And it's no accident."
