Meghan Markle accused of ‘exploiting everyday people’ by celeb chef | Royal | News
Jameson Stocks has weighed in on Meghan Markle’s latest As Ever wine release, which arrives just in time for the festive season. The Duchess of Sussex’s lifestyle brand has come under renewed scrutiny – and this time it’s celebrity chef Jameson Stocks leading the discussion.
Previously King III. Stocks, who has cooked for Charles, accused Meghan, 44, of “exploiting ordinary people” and “using the royal family as a marketing tool”. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Express, Trump claimed the business model “misses the mark” and caters only to the wealthy.
The As Ever wine collection, which includes a £26 ($35) Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and a £70 ($89) Napa Valley Brut, has sparked a royal frenzy over whether it’s truly “everyday elegance” or just luxury at a fabulous price.
“Maybe in Napa Valley or California people will pay for them; obviously those are his target market,” he said.
“But when it comes to buying baby food, paying for heating and affording the commute to work, I’m sure the vast majority would overlook a £30 ‘casual’ bottle of wine, even if it’s Meghan Markle branded.”
Stocks said Meghan’s latest line of wine shows how far her brand has drifted from ordinary people and the people it once claimed to represent.
Asked what Prince William and Princess Kate would make of Meghan’s luxury holiday collection, Stocks didn’t hold back.
“I don’t think any family, royal or otherwise, would appreciate someone coming in and making money off the back of the family name,” he said. He continued: “Admiration comes with class and the presence you present as a person.”
Stocks emphasized the importance of accessibility and fairness, comparing Prince Harry’s wife’s business strategy to her own ethos as a chef and brand builder.
“The difference between my brand and his is that I tried to build it to be accessible and affordable to the majority,” he explained.
“He’s really created a brand for the minority who can afford it; his ethos is completely different from mine.”
The Duchess’s Business As Usual holiday collection includes products such as £49 honey, £50 candles and a £13 spice set, as well as “special fruit cream” options.
Stocks, the late Queen Elizabeth II. He suggested that Elizabeth would find this approach distasteful. “I think the Queen will feel that she is exploiting ‘ordinary’ people and using the royal family as a marketing tool to sell the jam,” he said.
The chef concluded by focusing on Meghan’s ever-growing list of luxury lifestyle products.
He said: “Let’s be honest, if he can make a big mark on it he’ll turn anything into a luxury wellness product. From overpriced tea to honey – then he’ll sell California vibes in a jar.”
