So, the internet is at it again. If you’ve scrolled through your feed recently, you’ve probably seen the headline "Daily Express Meghan Markle" popping up with the kind of frequency usually reserved for weather warnings or crypto scams. It's constant.
Just this week, the Duchess of Sussex dropped a new product for her lifestyle brand, As Ever. It wasn't a $500 jar of jam or a gold-plated blender. It was a $18 leather bookmark. Honestly, it's a weirdly humble move for a woman who the British tabloids usually paint as the ultimate "Duchess of Delusion."
The Daily Express has been leading the charge on this, alternating between calling her moves "bombshells" and "dull." It’s a wild ride. But what’s actually happening behind the curtain? Is this a genuine pivot to "thoughtful living," or is it just another loop in what critics are calling a "doom loop" of rebranding?
The Daily Express Meghan Markle Coverage: A Pattern of Polarisation
If you read the Daily Express Meghan Markle reports, you’ll notice a very specific rhythm. One day, she's "silencing critics" because her latest drop sold out in ten minutes. The next, a royal expert like Lee Cohen is calling her career a "revolving door of staff" and a "hype-disappointment cycle."
It’s exhausting to keep up with.
Basically, the narrative right now is split. On one side, you have the business reality: her brand As Ever (which was formerly American Riviera Orchard) is actually moving units. That leather bookmark? Gone in minutes. The "Moment to Unwind" set with honey and peppermint tea? Sold out.
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On the other side, the Express highlights the "humiliation" factor. They frequently quote experts who claim Meghan is "stealing the limelight" from Prince Harry or planning a UK return that will make the Royal Family "boil." It’s high-octane drama designed for clicks, but there are nuggets of truth buried in there if you look closely enough.
Why the "As Ever" Rebrand Matters
Back in early 2025, the brand was called American Riviera Orchard. It was a bit of a mouthful. Meghan eventually admitted it was too limiting—basically saying it tied her to products grown specifically in Santa Barbara.
The shift to As Ever was supposed to be cleaner. But the Daily Express was quick to point out that a small New York clothing brand already uses that name. It’s those kinds of "blunders" that the tabloid feasts on. They love a good David vs. Goliath story where the Duchess is the one with the shaky legal standing.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Strategy
People think Meghan is trying to be the next Martha Stewart. That’s only half the story.
According to reports from the Daily Express and royal insiders like Grant Harrold, she’s actually moving toward a "foodie and lifestyle" niche that intentionally avoids the "bombshell" territory of Harry’s Spare.
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The Royal Family is reportedly relieved about this. They’d much rather see her selling bookmarks and calligraphy-inspired tea sets than sitting down with Oprah again.
The Recent Pivot Away from Archewell Projects
One detail that hasn’t been shouted about enough is the quiet hand-off of the Parents Network. Meghan and Harry launched this to help families deal with online harm. It was a big deal.
But recently, they handed the "full operational capacity" over to an organization called ParentsTogether. Why? The Daily Express Meghan Markle experts suggest they are "stepping back" from heavy advocacy to focus on the commercial "lifestyle sphere."
It’s a strategic retreat.
The UK Return: Fact vs. Fiction
There is a lot of noise about Meghan returning to Britain in 2026. The Express loves this angle because it triggers a massive reaction from their readers.
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Here is the deal:
- Harry wants to reconcile. That’s been reported for months.
- Meghan’s "stock value" in the US is a topic of debate, with some columnists claiming she’s "least popular" in Hollywood, while others point to her sold-out product launches as proof of a cult following.
- A UK trip for the Invictus Games "one year to go" event is on the cards.
The Daily Express often frames this as a "threat" to the Palace’s peace. They’ve even used the phrase "Duchess of Double Standards" because she’s returning to a country she previously criticized.
But from a brand perspective, it makes sense. You can’t have a global lifestyle empire if you’re permanently exiled from one of your biggest potential markets.
Actionable Insights for the Casual Royal Watcher
If you're trying to make sense of the Daily Express Meghan Markle headlines without losing your mind, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the Products, Not the Quotes: Tabloid quotes from "insiders" are often biased. The actual sales data for As Ever tells a more accurate story of her current influence. If she’s selling out $18 items, there is a massive audience still listening.
- The Rebrand is Commercial, Not Political: 2026 is the year Meghan stops trying to change the Monarchy and starts trying to sell to the Monarchy's audience. It's a shift from "activist" to "entrepreneur."
- The UK "Olive Branch" is Complex: Don't expect a group hug at Buckingham Palace. Any return to the UK will likely be strictly professional and tied to the Invictus Games or brand expansion.
The "doom loop" narrative makes for great headlines, but the reality is likely much more boring: a celebrity trying to find a business model that sticks while navigating a press corps that has already decided they don't like her. Whether the bookmark-to-lifestyle-guru pipeline actually works is the real story to watch this year.