Meghan Markle’s new lifestyle brand, As Ever, is already facing criticism before it even launches. The mayor of Porreres, a small town in Mallorca, Spain, has claimed that the brand’s logo is almost identical to the town’s historic coat of arms. Markle is also facing a legal issue in California.
The logo for As Ever features a black and white palm tree in the center, with two hummingbirds on either side. Porreres’ coat of arms, which dates back to 1370, also has a palm tree in the middle with two birds flying toward it.
Mayor Francisca “Xisca” Mora told Fox News Digital that while the town does not plan to take legal action, they do want their heritage to be respected. She called the resemblance an “unfortunate coincidence” and emphasized that the town’s emblem is an important part of its identity.
Branding expert Doug Eldridge described the situation as a “comedy of errors” and said it should have been avoided. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams also found the situation “hilarious,” blaming Meghan’s team for not doing proper research.
Mora admitted she first thought the news was fake, but after seeing the logo, she said the similarities were “undeniable.” She hopes As Ever will change its logo, as the town does not want its historic symbol used for commercial products like jam.
While some experts argue that palm trees and birds are common in logos, others believe Meghan’s team should have done a better job checking for possible conflicts. This latest controversy adds to a series of challenges Meghan has faced with her brand launches.