The Duchess of Sussex has taken many by surprise with a bold pivot in her post-royal endeavors—venturing into the alcohol business, starting with a rosé wine and planning to expand her offerings.
According to The Daily Mail, Meghan Markle is launching an entire line of alcoholic beverages under her American Riviera Orchard brand, beginning with a rosé and later branching out into pre-mixed cocktails and upscale options such as botanical gin.
An insider close to the Sussexes shared, “The rosé is just the beginning—she and Netflix have bigger plans for a broad alcohol line.”
If successful, Meghan will be joining the ranks of celebrities who’ve built thriving alcohol empires, including Kylie Minogue, Cameron Diaz, Sarah Jessica Parker, John Legend, and Brad Pitt.
Other stars like Ryan Reynolds and Idris Elba have found success with gin, while George Clooney and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have made their mark in the tequila market.
Even the British royal family sells spirits through Buckingham Palace’s own label.
With this latest move, Meghan seems to have chosen a clear direction. After stepping back from royal life and years of speculation about a possible career in politics, she’s now embracing a lifestyle and influencer-focused identity.
The shift feels like a natural return to her pre-royal roots, recalling her days as the creator of The Tig, her now-defunct lifestyle blog.
In recent months, Meghan has leaned into this new image, releasing polished beachside photos showcasing luxury accessories, cheerful social media clips—including a video of her dancing while heavily pregnant—and curated glimpses into her family life.
One insider revealed that a particular video “performed incredibly well,” and Meghan’s team considered it a major success, anticipating that such visibility could boost product sales.
She’s even started sharing rare, personal snapshots—featuring Princess Lilibet, moments from a family trip to Disneyland, and casual photos with Prince Harry and their children—suggesting a calculated embrace of a celebrity-influencer persona, perhaps reminiscent of the Kardashian playbook.
This direction wasn’t always a given. Early on after leaving the UK, there were whispers that Meghan was considering a political career, possibly even seeking elected office.
Living in California with connections to influential figures like Oprah Winfrey, the idea didn’t seem far-fetched. But at some point, she opted for building a lifestyle brand over drafting campaign speeches.
In many ways, this is a homecoming.
Back in 2014, long before her royal marriage, Meghan was writing about fashion, travel, and food. Now she’s re-entering the entrepreneurial space, but this time with a far larger audience, greater financial backing, and a major media partner in Netflix.
And the business potential is real. The global market for rosé alone is valued at more than $5 billion—a much more lucrative venture than a run for office or a policy think tank.
As for Prince Harry, he seems to be staying more low-key, recently appearing in casual Instagram clips doing everyday dad activities.
Meanwhile, his brother Prince William is leaning into his royal role, making high-profile speeches and representing the monarchy on the international stage.
So what’s next for Meghan? Could a skincare line, shapewear brand, or even high-end kitchenware be on the horizon?
It’s too early to say—but fans are eagerly awaiting the debut of her rosé, perhaps cheekily dubbed “Meg-é.”
And for those who can’t wait, there’s always King Charles’ own bubbly rosé from the Highgrove Estate—priced at a royal $72 a bottle.
