Meghan Markle might be gearing up to add some sparkle to her business ventures, with rising speculation about her potential foray into the beverage industry.
The Duchess of Sussex, who is 44, stirred curiosity on Friday night with an Instagram post. The short teaser video features a woman’s hand elegantly pouring a fizzy drink from a sophisticated bottle into a tall glass.
The video is accompanied by the lively sounds of a social gathering and a message reading, “Save The Date October 28th,” alongside the “As Ever” logo, which depicts a palm tree and two birds.
Many are speculating that Meghan could be introducing a new sparkling wine or champagne. However, some suggest it might be a cider, based on hints from a prior teaser.
In the earlier promotional clip released on Thursday, Meghan is seen casually walking through a grove, wearing a black dress paired with a white cardigan.
The clip ends on a mysterious note as she reaches up toward a tree, and the screen gradually fades to black.
It is thought the date, in four days time, could mark a new product announcement or campaign by Meghan, although there has been no other official statement confirming what it could be.
Meghan’s As Ever brand has previously sold a range of products including £10-a-jar jam and Sauvignon Blanc wine.
Meghan could be looking to put the fizz back into her business endeavours – with speculation growing with a new teaser video that she is looking to launch a zingy beverage
The Duchess of Sussex released her As Ever Napa Valley Rose 2024 in August – though unlike its predecessor the stock has not sold out and is still available to buy on her website
Her most recent beverage brought to market was released in August, though unlike its predecessor the stock has not sold out and is still available to buy on her website.
The 2024 Napa Valley Rose was launched on August 5 with bottles retailing for $30 each. Buyers must purchase either a minimum of three bottles of wine, six for $159 (£119) including a 12 per cent discount, or 12 bottles for $300 (£225), including 17 per cent off.
By contrast, Meghan’s 2023 rosé sold out within an hour when it launched in July.
The 2024 wine is described as evoking the same ‘soft notes of stone fruit, gentle minerality and a lasting finish’ as the 2023 rosé – but it has packed less of a punch with buyers.
The Daily Mail revealed previously that the 2023 wine used grapes from the Fairwinds estate so Meghan could show her support after the winery was almost destroyed in a devastating wildfire in 2020 which caused $15million worth of damage.
Napa Valley wine country is in northern California, around 50 miles from San Francisco.
Amid rumours the Duchess is looking to add another product to her wine portfolio, other experts have suggested, following a troubled partnership with Netflix and the release of her podcast Archetypes, that she is looking to enter the beauty industry.
Meghan has been said to be working on new products to boost the lifestyle brand and recently posted two clips on Instagram showing her applying lipstick.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday night Meghan, 44, posted a first teaser video in which she cryptically reaches up towards a tree before the screen fades away
Meghan Markle, pictured earlier this month in Washington, has left fans guessing with the teaser videos, although experts are predicting she will also enter the world of beauty
The brand names of the lipstick were obscured.
It’s a ‘tell-tale sign’ she may be gearing up to promote her own range, industry sources said last week.
One told The Mail on Sunday: ‘On her Instagram reel, the make-up lined up on her dressing table was unbranded or had the brand labels obscured, which felt deliberate. That’s a tell-tale sign Meghan has something in the pipeline.
‘The fact she didn’t want to promote or reveal any other brand is a big clue that she’s gearing up to promote her own range eventually – it is a sign for industry insiders.’
Should the secretive announcement indeed be Meghan’s own make-up line, it would see her follow in the successful footsteps of major celebrities such as singer Selena Gomez and tennis player Serena Williams.
Gomez’s brand has become so successful it has helped her achieve the status of billionaire.
So far, Meghan’s As Ever brand has largely focussed on artisanal food products, supported by her cookery Netflix series With Love, Meghan.
She has previously sold products including jam, apricot spread, herbal tea, honey, wine and dessert mixes.
Emma Grede has shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the Duchess of Sussex at her glitzy LA dinner last week – and PR experts believe it could be a sign of more to come from the pair
A source told the Mail last week: ‘Meghan’s cookery never really took off, but it has at least launched her as a lifestyle influencer.
‘The word in New York is that her eye is already onto the next big thing and that’s why she met Vogue editor Chloe Malle during her trip to the city.
‘What makes big money, like really big money? Make-up, of course.
‘She could make a lot more money in beauty than selling pots of jam.’
Speculation over a possible Meghan make-up line has only grown with her recent appearances at Paris Fashion Week and with the mastermind behind Kim Kardashian’s Skims range.
The Duchess of Sussex was this week pictured cosying up to Dragons’ Den star and multi-millionaire Emma Grede, at the businesswoman’s LA ‘vegan banquet’.
Behind the scenes footage showed guests were treated to Meghan’s 2024 Sauvignon Blanc wine, while the Duchess and Emma posed and laughed together.
Although sources have ruled out an official collaboration, it could be the strongest sign yet of what is to come.
Yesterday’s teaser comes as it was revealed that Meghan has parted ways with her tenth publicist in five years.
Emily Robinson joined Harry and Meghan’s team as director of communications in June, but she has already quit.
Ms Robinson was always a controversial hire as she had worked on The Crown for years – a show which aired a number of damaging narratives about the Royal Family.
