Kate Middleton fans have donated more than £11,000 to a fundraising page after the UK domain for Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand was hijacked.
The Duchess of Sussex’s new American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand has been redirected by what appears to be a Princess Kate fan.
While the American web link takes you to the Duchess’ website for her business venture, the UK domain name has been purchased by someone who has linked it to a food bank and message saying ‘thoughts with Catherine’.
Now, Kate Middleton fans have donated £11,649, as of now on the site, to the Trussell Trust which works to end the need for food banks in the UK.
Fans clicking on the link ‘americanrivieraorchard.uk’ will be taken to a page asking for donations for the UK-based charity – and discover a very pointed message.
While the home page states ‘Forgiveness. Permission. Please donate to the Trussell Trust’, clicking on this will lead to a Just Giving fundraiser for the Trussell Trust charity.
‘This is not meghan but hopefully meghan wouldn’t mind. thoughts with catherine, princess of wales and his majesty the king,’ the cryptic message reads.
‘Please note, the purchase of the americanrivieraorchard.uk domain name and this justgiving page are the full extent of this exclusively charitable mission. someone else is flogging the tea towels!’
The message of support to the Princess of Wales comes after she revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer last month and was undergoing chemotherapy.
As soon as users open the website they are met with the cryptic words ‘forgiveness’ and ‘permission’ before encouraging people to ‘please donate to the Trussell Trust’.
It seems unlikely that the domain was bought by Meghan’s representatives with those who have donated suggesting a Good Samaritan was responsible for buying up the domain.
The Trussell Trust confirmed to MailOnline that it did not set up the webpage and had been unaware of the donation site.
Sophie Carre, Director of Public Engagement at the Trussell Trust, said: ‘The Trussell Trust are grateful to people who put their time and energy into supporting our work to end the need for food banks in the UK.
The charity is not connected with this website domain and have no knowledge of who set it up.’
So far the spoof page has raised £56 out of its £1,000 target with one US-based donator writing: ‘I am happy to support from across the pond and am glad to know of this organization through the link on the American Riviera Orchards website.’
Another added: ‘A really good way of bringing attention to the great work they do.’
Earlier this week Meghan sent 50 jars of jam to a very exclusive group of people.
Parenting campaigner Kelly McKee Zajfen, Argentine socialite Delfina Balquier and stylist Tracy Robbins are amongst those who took to Instagram to share the new product.
Meghan’s jam had the American Riviera Orchard logo and ‘Montecito’ underneath – the celebrity enclave in California where she lives with Harry in a £12million mansion.
The price list for the new products has not been revealed yet although it is expected to be a luxury brand. It is registered to sell lifestyle products from recipe books to table wear and textiles – and of course, jams and marmalade.
The Duchesses’ business venture was revealed in a glitzy social media video last month, with the new venture set to coincide with a new Netflix cookery show featuring her.
Insiders told the Mail the business was set to be a ‘lifestyle and cooking brand’ which would focus on things Meghan holds dear.
Another added: ‘It’s a lifestyle and cooking brand called American Riviera Orchard. The brand is meant to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show for Netflix.
‘Meghan will be making, and selling, products such as jams. And at some point there will be a book and blog etc.’
The new brand is set to be an extension of her former lifestyle blog The Tig, an insider told America’s Page Six, adding: ‘She’s been working on this for over a year and it’s all the things that are close to her heart.’
It is fitting that the Duchess’s venture will feature cooking and food, which is something she has shown a passion for in the past.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
