The Duchess of Sussex released a jam as part of her American Riviera Orchard range but it failed to impress the public.

Meghan Markle reduced to tears after her new product was 'widely mocked', says royal expert - Hindustan Times

Meghan Markle was left in tears after her new lifestyle brand was brutally mocked by the public, it has been claimed. The Duchess of Sussex soft-launched American Riviera Orchard in March with the release of a new jam.

The 43-year-old is said to be on a PR blitz to boost the brand, which will be the focus of her new Netflix series. Earlier this year, she teased the release with a cryptic video on social media showing her and Prince Harry walking around the grounds of their Californian mansion.

With Meghan and Harry’s standing with the public low, she had hoped to improve her own profile in the eyes of the public. But it backfired with the jam failing to impress.

And royal author Tom Quinn claims she was left crying at the reaction. He told the Mirror: “The one fly in the ointment is Meghan’s new internet brand, America Riviera Orchard. Meghan was in tears when the brand launched and her new jam was widely mocked for being expensive and nothing special.

Meghan Markle 'in tears' over harsh feedback to new company American Riviera Orchard after strawberry jam lampooned | Sky News Australia

“She has reached the point now where she thinks that anything and everything she does will be unfairly criticised. Like her husband, she feels that people are unfairly picking on her – she cannot understand why people don’t admire her work.”

He added: “She is especially sensitive about any criticism of her luxurious lifestyle in the US – from her point of view this is something to be admired not criticised.”

Meghan Markle's jam

The Duchess’s jam failed to make a mark

American Riviera Orchard could go live at the end of this year but there is no date yet for the release of the Netflix series, which will “celebrate the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship”. She is said to have finished filming with big names from the world of food tipped to appear.

Harry and Meghan now live in the exclusive California community of Montecito with their children Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. They quit royal life in 2020.