Meghan Markle’s new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, faced a significant challenge ahead of its official launch. The issue arose when the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejected the trademark application, citing that businesses cannot operate under the names of real locations.
The brand’s name refers to the “American Riviera,” a nickname for Santa Barbara, California, where Meghan, Prince Harry, and their two children reside.
This setback emerged around the same time that Prince William made his first public appearance after the summer break. He was spotted visiting a homeless exhibit, sporting a stubble, which sparked conversation online.
Some royal fans praised the casual look, encouraging him to keep it, while others joked that he seemed to still be in “vacation mode.”
Just a month earlier, William and Kate had released a surprise video congratulating Team GB on their Olympic success, where William also sported the stubble for the first time, attracting further attention.