Meghan Markle hits new staffing snag: ‘Difficulties’

The Duchess of Sussex has finally unveiled her brand-new venture, but it’s reportedly already encountered some issues.

Meghan Markle is reportedly struggling to secure employees for her new company, American Riviera Orchard.

The Duchess of Sussex soft-launched the homewares and lifestyle brand earlier this year, but appears to have lost some momentum in the months since.

According to royal author Tom Quinn, she’s been “having difficulties finding staff” as she wants them to be “full of their own ideas” while also being “compliant to her wishes.”

“One of Meghan’s biggest problems when she lived at Kensington Palace was that she believes that staff should be jump when they’re told to jump,” he told The Mirror.

“She doesn’t have the ultra-polite old-fashioned English habit of asking staff if they would mind ordering a pizza or ringing for a car or organising a lunch.”

Meghan is reportedly struggling to secure staff

She gifted 50 homemade jams to influencers and friends

Quinn added: “Meghan has absolute self-belief. But to make her brand a success she needs to take and accept advice and allow staff who know far more about these things to make some of the decisions. This is really difficult for Meghan as she is not a natural delegator.”

The duchess unveiled ARO in March with a cryptic teaser video and vague details, shared on a new, official Instagram page.

Further information about the brand was revealed afterwards, with the announcement that the brand would focus on kitchen and homeware goods, selling oils, butters, jams and preserves, home fragrances and furnishings.

Part of the initial PR push included a lavish package of jams, accessorised with lemons, which were delivered to a carefully-curated list of 50 highly influential and high-net worth friends.

It’s been reported the company will have an official launch later this year, but details are yet to be confirmed.