Meghan Markle’s As Ever candles spark backlash
Meghan Markle has faced fresh criticism online after details emerged about two new candles from her As Ever lifestyle brand that reference the birthdates of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The products are part of a US Mother’s Day collection and are due to go on sale on April 22, with commentary focusing on the inclusion of the children’s names and dates in the item descriptions.
The candles will be available from 9am California time, with Express reporting that the items are titled “Signature Candle No. 604” and “Signature Candle No. 506”, with the numbers reflecting Princess Lilibet’s June 4 birthday and Prince Archie’s May 6 birthday.
According to the report, the As Ever website descriptions reference “Prince Archie of Sussex’s Birthdate” and “Princess Lilibet of Sussex’s Birthdate”. The same coverage said the Lilibet-inspired candle is described as adding “a sense of brightness and openness to the home”, while the Archie-inspired version is described as bringing “a soft, familiar ease into the room”.
The reaction comes amid sustained scrutiny of how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex balance privacy and publicity, a theme that has surfaced in previous coverage including claims that Prince Harry and Meghan were accused of disrupting the late Queen’s final Balmoral plans.
The products are set to launch as part of As Ever’s seasonal offering, and online debate is likely to continue as the Mother’s Day collection becomes available to customers in the US.
