Meghan Markle gave fans a peek inside her California kitchen this 4th of July, sharing a sun-soaked video on Instagram that showcased a festive charcuterie board—and her now-famous (and sold-out) As Ever raspberry spread. But while some applauded her relaxed charm, others weren’t exactly…spreading the love.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, looked effortlessly chic in a blue-and-white striped button-down as she casually arranged berries, crackers, and cheese into a patriotic platter. Front and center was the $14 raspberry preserve from her lifestyle brand, As Ever, which sold out within 30 minutes during its April debut.
“Happy 4th of July!” read the caption as Meghan cheerfully popped a stray raspberry into her mouth mid-assembly. The video was first posted to @shopas-ever, and then reappeared minutes later on Meghan’s personal Instagram page, @meghan, where fans were treated to an aerial view of the colorful spread.
But not everyone was feeling festive.
Over on Reddit, some British Royal Family watchers criticized the clip as unoriginal and overly curated. One user quipped, “Bless her heart for thinking this is new and/or unique. Also, the faux calligraphy and unnecessary flowers are eye-roll inducing.” Another compared the display to a “Pinterest board from 2014.”
Still, there’s no denying Meghan’s influence—whether fans are buying into the As Ever aesthetic or just curious to taste what the Duchess is cooking up. The raspberry spread, despite mixed reviews, flew off the virtual shelves. It’s produced by The Republic of Tea, a California-based company also behind Meghan’s tea and honey range. Though the firm is headquartered near San Francisco, the jam itself is reportedly made in Illinois—2,000 miles from Meghan and Prince Harry’s Montecito estate.
While Meghan has proudly called the spread a labor of love, not all critics are sweet on it. When FEMAIL got an early taste of the product this spring, their verdict was far from glowing. They described the texture as “loose” and the flavor “more dessert sauce than jam.” Meghan had previously explained on her Netflix series With Love, Meghan that her preserves couldn’t technically be called jam due to the lower sugar content—saying, “I just don’t think you can taste the fruit that way.”
As for whether the raspberry spread will make a comeback? That’s still up in the air. On a recent episode of her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan opened up about the challenges of launching As Ever, comparing the brand’s rollout to a “sneaker drop.”
“We planned for a year, and then everything sold out in 45 minutes,” she said. “Yes, amazing, great news. Then what do you do?” She added, “I don’t want you to eat that jam once every six months. I want that to be on your shelf all the time.”
In an era where Kate Middleton, Prince William, and even Prince Harry are often front-page fixtures for royal protocol and public service, Meghan’s lifestyle brand feels like a personal (and polarizing) pivot. But love it or leave it, there’s no denying that the Duchess knows how to get people talking.
And with her raspberry spread now a hot topic on both sides of the Atlantic, we’re just left wondering—what’s Meghan cooking up next?