Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is facing major criticism and accusations of being insensitive after she chose to launch her As Ever wine brand on what would have been Princess Diana’s 64th birthday. The decision, which happened on July 1, has caused strong disapproval from royal experts and the public, with some calling it a clear disrespect toward the memory of Prince Harry’s late mother.
The launch of the Napa Valley rosé, described as a custom blend with flavors of stone fruit and a light mineral quality, sold out right away, showing the brand’s popularity. However, the quick sales success has been overshadowed by the controversy over the timing.
According to Express, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield said, “It’s not lost on Prince William that Meghan has launched an alcohol brand on his mother’s birthday, the very mum he lost in a drink driving tragedy… Timing an alcohol launch to Diana’s birthday wasn’t just a misstep, it was borderline cruel.”
Royal experts think Meghan Markle is insensitive for releasing her wine on Princess Diana’s birthday
Schofield said, “To claim ignorance here doesn’t hold up — it wasn’t just insensitive. It felt like a betrayal of the very narrative she’s working so hard to craft.” An expert told Daily Mail that Diana’s tragic death in a car crash involved a drunk driver, making any connection between her memory and the promotion of alcohol extremely inappropriate. The expert also suggested that Meghan’s marketing approach risked overshadowing the pain of Diana’s death on a day meant to honor her.
There were many other ways to celebrate Diana’s legacy, the expert said, and launching a wine was simply not the right one. Reports say that Prince Harry himself disagreed with the timing of the wine launch. He allegedly asked his wife not to go forward with the release on his mother’s birthday, stressing that the issue was not about business but about respect for his late mother.
People close to the situation described Prince Harry as “heartbroken” by Meghan’s decision, with one source saying the day holds deep meaning for him, and seeing it turned into a publicity move was painful. Despite his reported objections, Meghan supposedly insisted that the date overlap was a “pure coincidence” and that it was “too late” to change the launch schedule, reportedly ignoring her husband’s concerns.
This isn’t the first time Meghan Markle’s As Ever brand got negative attention, but her stock continues to empty despite this. Still, the feeling of betrayal has struck a chord with many, especially within royal circles. It has been suggested that Prince William, Diana’s oldest son, was especially upset by Meghan’s actions. A source said that William was troubled by Meghan’s decision to launch an alcohol brand on his mother’s birthday, especially since he lost her in a tragedy caused by a drunk driver. The source said William saw the timing of the alcohol launch as more than just a mistake, almost cruel.
The idea that Meghan could claim she didn’t know the importance of the date didn’t make sense, and the timing felt like a betrayal of the carefully crafted image she often presents. The As Ever wine, priced at around $30 per bottle, was sold in different quantities, including three-bottle sets, half cases, and full cases. The first batch of the rosé sold out in under an hour, with some reports saying it sold out in minutes.
