american riviera orchard - what was that all about then?

[Tenmus]

It seems to have gone the same way as their Sussex Royal site. I don't know much about social media or PR, but this all seems pretty odd and ineffectual.

I wonder why that uncle from the diplomatic service wasn't invited to the wedding?

Apparently Michael Markle died with Parkinsons in 2021.
It's a cruel and progressive disease and I guess it's possible he wasn't well enough to attend?

I would have liked to see them do something more down to earth and relatable when they first left the RF. maybe buying a vineyard or a ranch and trying to make a go of it… similar to dick straw bridge’s chateau programme. Harry could have made documentaries about horses in the US, coming from the Royals love of horses and traditional pursuits such as racing and polo and looking at different equine activities in America. Maybe breaking or training some horses himself and trying to compete with them (Clarkson style?)

they would have to be prepared to get their hands dirty and have a bit of sense of humour about themselves though.

I think then any books, products and recipes etc might have seemed more appealing and authentic. He could still share insights into his royal background which people find fascinating (like Mike Tyndall does) without destroying his relationship with his family and keeping the door open for some waving on balconies.

Gillian Anderson rubs my fur the wrong way - the worst fake English accent

@Sageyboots - you should have been Harry’s advisor! Too late now, and I don’t think that would have floated Meghan’s boat. She wanted to be Hollywood royalty and “getting hands dirty” would have been a nightmare on a par with opening community centres in Pontefract.

Queen bees, all.

you should have been Harry’s advisor!

A fairly thankless job, I would think. Neither of them seem willing to listen to any advice about anything, ever.

Does Harry maintain his own stable of polo ponies (not cheap) or does he rely on wealthy friends to supply him?

Indeed. And don't forget Meghan the producer! With that big Netflix deal. So that went well...

Gwyneth Paltrow took years and years to establish GooP to the business that it is today. She's found her place in the market which is bored, rich cali housewives with unlimited credit cards... and she's just the right side of kooky to have made it work. I'm not a fan but she deserves credit for holding in there - she even runs cruises/wellness breaks etc and seems to have a strong place in the market.

Meghan doesn't have the personality to build a brand on her own - she's just too marmite. Her only interest appears to be self promotion.

I have no idea how this all works, but I have heard some others state that it would have been better to have launched with fewer items, but that the items were ready to sell.
Instead, that is, of registering loads of trademarks?, including dog food, without any product to back it up.
Others have stated that the site should have had more followers at startup, but at over 500k I thought the numbers sounded good, but I have already admitted I know little about it.
Personally, I find the logo? or whatever it's called with the fancy writing, to indecipherable, and a simpler design would have been better.
Obviously designed to appeal only to US citizens, who are more likely to know what American Riviera means.

Harry could have made documentaries about horses in the US, coming from the Royals love of horses and traditional pursuits such as racing and polo

Horse racing as a 'sport' in and of itself is ethically questionable and Harold has form for being investigated for cruelty to his polo ponies. I really don't think he could have floated a horsy theme.

A documentary about cowboys might have been apt though...

@Ratsoffasinkingsauage What a Lovely story.

@Abouttimeforanamechange
"He was her father's brother. Speculation, but it would have been difficult to invite him and not her father, and for some reason she seems to have been dead set on not inviting Thomas."
It was always thought that Thomas was invited, and that he only did not come because of his emergency hospital treatment. His name was still on the Order of Service, etc
However, he has stated publicly that he did not receive one of the 'Fancy Invitations', that others (such as Doria) received.

The Insta account has over 500k followers, but isn't following anyone. I'd have thought they'd be following accounts which say something about the sort of image they want to project and promote causes they want to support.- not for profit initiatives around sustainability, fair trade, artisan crafts etc, with artistic photos of California scenery. Isn't the point of SM that it's supposed to be a two way thing?

A lot of the big accounts don’t follow anyone, or just follow one account at a time, to raise awareness.

I think she’s just copying other people’s ideas all the time rather than trying to actually do something she believes in and really will graft to get results. I suspect both of them are quite lazy really. Expect a certain standard of living without doing anything much for it.

Do you seriously think that’s even a remote possibility? It’s like senior CEOs in a company just walking out, criticising the company on an international stage, slagging off the directors and then asking for their jobs back when they find they can’t get another job.

Thanks @Prydddan I was quoting Meghan from her Netflix documentary, where she tried to lay the blame for Ashleigh not getting an invite on some nameless palace advisers.
I didn’t buy it for a minute. She worded it so vaguely: “the guidance at the time was that…”, and wore that regretful expression she does so well 😝

I don't buy it either.

Other guidance at the time (from ERII, no less) was to go see her dad. She wasn't taking guidance, right from the start.

It’s always someone else’s fault with those two.

I wouldn’t want to read advice on horses from Harry

Oh God that’s really horrible.

That's shocking. Poor horse.

Christ that’s horrific.

My god.
That level of injury on the grey has been caused by Harry booting/thumping it with all his might with his spurs. No thought at all for the welfare of his pony, it is there purely to serve his whim and pleasure.
I don't really approve of the use of spurs, but in dressage for example, used gently and appropriately, they can reinforce an aid ('instruction') to your horse.
Utterly disgusting to see Harry's abuse here.