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Now Meghan's A

Time:2024-04-20 02:18:47

As the promotion for Meghan's American Riviera Orchard products begins to trickle through, two of her very famous pals have revealed they are also the recipients of the first batch of her strawberry jam.

Award-winning actress and comedy writer Mindy Kaling and actress Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of Diana Ross, have both revealed they have been gifted jars of the jam as the Duchess prepares to launch her lifestyle brand.

As the pair reveal themselves as lucky early recipients of the conserve, they are two more of a very exclusive group of 50 people to try Meghan's jam before it goes on sale.

Other recipients have revealed themselves as Meghan's fellow 'polo wife ' Delfina Blaquier, fashion designer Tracy Robbins and the Duchess's close friend of many years, Kelly McKee Zajfen.

As Meghan's A-List pals join the promotion for her new lifestyle brand, it may give some insight into the Duchess's target audience. 

Mindy Kaling, award-winning writer and actress, is among the exclusive group to have received jam from Meghan's first American Riviera Orchard batch

Mindy Kaling, award-winning writer and actress, is among the exclusive group to have received jam from Meghan's first American Riviera Orchard batch

Mindy Kaling has enjoyed a friendship with Meghan since she appeared on the first series of the Duchess's Spotify podcast Archetypes. 

The star of The Office and The Mindy Project who has won several awards for her work posted a snap of her jar of strawberry jam among a bowl of ripe and juicy lemons to reveal she has received the product.

Tagging Meghan's American Riviera Orchard brand, she simply said: 'Obsessed.'

Last week, Mindy was spotted hanging out with Prince Harry at a life coaching event in San Francisco for BetterUp, a mental health startup for which Harry is Chief Impact Officer.

She posted a snap of herself beaming alongside the duke on Instagram and joked she had no idea who he was, referring to him as 'my friend's husband'.

Another A-lister to have receives a jar of strawberry jam from Meghan's first batch is Tracee Ellis Ross

Another A-lister to have receives a jar of strawberry jam from Meghan's first batch is Tracee Ellis Ross

Mindy wrote: 'Met my friend's husband at a work event. Seemed pretty cool. Said he wrote a book. Gonna go check it out!' 

As Tracee, star of hit comedy Black-ish, posted her jar of jam on her Instagram story, she also revealed the product on a bed of plush lemons. 

It appears the jam was also delivered with a card or a letter, which has her name written on it in calligraphy that resembles Meghan's.

Although it is not immediately clear how Meghan and Tracee became friends, the actress was also on the roster of speakers at the BetterUp event last week.

The Duchess and Tracee also attended one of Beyoncé's LA concerts last summer although they were not pictured together at the event.

Meghan's American Riviera Orchard, which debuted its branding and joined social media last month, is the latest launch amid a trend of celebrities shifting their own food products - with Julianne Moore, Will Ferrell and LeBron James among those selling honey from their own gardens through the Flamingo Estate brand for up to $250 (£200) per jar.

Meghan could have found inspiration from her father-in-law King Charles III who began selling products such as jam from the Duchy of Cornwall estate in the 1990s.

Fashion designer Tracy Robbins posted a picture of the jam, which had the logo for American Riviera Orchard and 'Montecito' underneath. The label also had the words '17 of 50'

Fashion designer Tracy Robbins posted a picture of the jam, which had the logo for American Riviera Orchard and 'Montecito' underneath. The label also had the words '17 of 50'

Showing the strawberry jam in a basket with lemons, Tracy Robbins added: 'Thank you, M!'

Showing the strawberry jam in a basket with lemons, Tracy Robbins added: 'Thank you, M!'

Delfina Balquier also posted a photo on Instagram and said: 'Strawberry jam makes me happy'

Delfina Balquier also posted a photo on Instagram and said: 'Strawberry jam makes me happy'

Delfina Balquier's video also showed the strawberry jam spread on a piece of bread

Delfina Balquier's video also showed the strawberry jam spread on a piece of bread

Meghan Markle 's close pal Kelly McKee Zajfen received the duchess's American Riviera Orchard strawberry jam

Meghan Markle 's close pal Kelly McKee Zajfen received the duchess's American Riviera Orchard strawberry jam

Prince William took on the Duchy estate after Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022, and Duchy organic strawberry jam is on sale at Waitrose for £2.80 per jar - with sales from the full range helping raise £30million for the Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund.

Mrs Robbins posted a picture of Meghan's jam, which had the American Riviera Orchard logo and 'Montecito' underneath - the celebrity enclave in California where Harry and Meghan live in a £12million home. The label also had the words '17 of 50'.

The photo on Mrs Robbins's Instagram Stories showed the jam in her hand, and she said: '@AmericanRivieraOrchard Breakfast, lunch and dinner just got a little sweeter.'

Showing it in a basket with lemons, Mrs Robbins added: 'Thank you for the delicious basket! I absolutely love this jam so not sure I'm sharing with anyone. @American RivieraOrchard Thank you, M! #MontecitoGoodness #AmericanRivieraOrchard.'

Ms Balquier posted a similar picture on her Stories, saying: 'Strawberry jam makes me happy. And I love your jam, @AmericanRivieraOrchard.' Her label said: '10 of 50.' 

The post also showed some of the jam spread on a piece of bread. 

Fans of Meghan have been left hugely excited by the launch, with one tweeting: 'I don't eat jam that much but for you Meg I'm buying some. In fact hubby and kids will eat them on my behalf.'

Last week comedian, writer and actress Mindy posted a snap on her Instagram account of herself with Prince Harry after they met at a life coaching event in San Francisco

Last week comedian, writer and actress Mindy posted a snap on her Instagram account of herself with Prince Harry after they met at a life coaching event in San Francisco

Tracy Robbins with her husband Paramount boss Brian Robbins alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Bob Marley: One Love premiere in Kingston, Jamaica, on January 23

Tracy Robbins with her husband Paramount boss Brian Robbins alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Bob Marley: One Love premiere in Kingston, Jamaica, on January 23

Delfina Blaquier and Nacho Figueras at Harry and Meghan's wedding in Windsor in May 2018

Delfina Blaquier and Nacho Figueras at Harry and Meghan's wedding in Windsor in May 2018 

Delfina Blaquier with her husband Nacho Figueras alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge for Sentebale  in Wellington, Florida, last Friday

Delfina Blaquier with her husband Nacho Figueras alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge for Sentebale  in Wellington, Florida, last Friday

Another added: 'I remember learning to make jam in cookery class, so much fun, and all so yummy! I just know Meghan is absolutely loving this new era with ARO, with support from her amazing friends like Delfina.'

And a third said: 'It's all in the details, the ARO logo embroidery on the jam covering is exquisite.'

The Duchess is expected to officially launch American Riviera Orchard later this spring, with a source telling People magazine last week: 'Meghan finds the name American Riviera Orchard perfect. It feels authentic to her.

'She can't wait for the website to launch. She is excited about her latest, personal venture. This is something she's been wanting to do for a while. She is excited to share her style and things that she loves.'

It comes after the Duchess launched her new business venture on March 14 with an Instagram teaser. 

A vintage-style video of Meghan cooking and arranging white hydrangeas and roses was posted to the new American Riviera Orchard Instagram account.

The brief video was set to Nancy Wilson's I Wish You Love and closes with the brand's logo written in fine gold script above the word 'Montecito'.

Limited information has been released about American Riviera Orchard but a trademark application filed on February 2 this year showed the company wishes to offer downloadable and printed recipe books, table wear, textiles, and jams and marmalades, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office website. 

The account had 100,000 followers just three hours after its first post – a figure which is now up to 592,000.

Meghan has not run an Instagram account since the Sussexes stepped back from royal life four years ago.

Previously, they ran a joint account @sussexroyal but announced they would stop posting in March 2020.