Meghan Markle Savaged: 'Desperate' Duchess Accused of 'Merching' Princess Lilibet in New Ad

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has ignited a fierce backlash after featuring her four-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet, in promotional photos for her new £191 Garden Tea Bloom Box launched under her lifestyle brand As Ever on Wednesday evening.

Critics on social media platforms like X swiftly branded the move 'desperate,' accusing her of exploiting Lilibet whose face remained partially obscured to hawk the limited-edition product packed with peonies, jasmine, herbal peppermint tea and sage honey.

The images, shared directly from the San Francisco-based photoshoot with luxury florist High Camp Supply, depict Meghan arranging vases and table decor while Lilibet toddles into frame for cuddles or hides playfully underneath.

For context, this launch follows hot on the heels of As Ever's split from Netflix earlier this month, a partnership that had propped up the brand since its debut. A spokesperson for Meghan declared the venture 'ready to stand on its own' after the streaming giant confirmed the collaboration's end, praising her vision but noting it was always meant to be finite.

What started as a Netflix-backed endeavour, complete with her cooking series With Love, Meghan, now pivots to standalone salesmanship. Yet the timing feels pointed with the brand unshackled, every post lands under a microscope, and Lilibet's cameo has royal watchers sharpening their knives.

Meghan Markle's Bloom Box Gamble Pays Off—Or Does It?

Let's cut through the petals, the Garden Tea Bloom Box isn't just some frivolous bundle, it's priced at a steep £191 (around $250 stateside), shipping only within continental US, and pitched as 'fresh blooms and simple pantry comforts' to evoke an indoor garden idyll.

Meghan's behind-the-scenes snaps show her in a black turtleneck, meticulously styling arrangements of gardenias, white peonies, mint and jasmine alongside the tea and honeycomb-laced honey.

One clip catches Lilibet dashing in for a hug mid-arrange, another has the child perched on the table edge, eyes wide at the bounty. A third frames her peeking from under the rustic farm table as mum fusses over decor.

Adorable? To some, absolutely. But the caption 'Mama's little helpers' did little to quell suspicions that this was less family frolic, more calculated merch push.

The product's exclusivity screams premium play limited edition, crafted with High Camp Supply's flair but detractors smell opportunism. Social media erupted within hours.

'Wow, talk about peak desperation! She's really shoving little Betty front and centre, convinced the kid's going to be her magic shield against the avalanche of awful headlines,' fired one X user, riffing on Lilibet's nickname.

Another jabbed: 'Show me how to merch your kids. Keeping their faces blocked is part of the merch routine.'

A third quipped darkly, 'Instead of serving her kids up on a silver platter, she's serving them up on a rustic farm table but she's still serving them up.'

These aren't isolated trolls; they echo a swelling chorus questioning Meghan Markle's pivot from privacy advocate to brand ambassador extraordinaire.​

Backlash Builds as Meghan Markle Faces Familiar Fire

You can't help but sense the weariness in the pile-on. Meghan and Harry's long-standing pleas for their kids' shielding from public glare citing online threats now clash headlong with these glimpses, however blurred.

Lilibet's prior appearances, like a Valentine's post with Harry that sparked Photoshop frenzy or Serena Williams cameos tied to Netflix promo, already had sceptics scoffing at hypocrisy. Here, the duchess threads the needle: faces averted, innocence preserved, yet the child's presence screams endorsement. Fans who once cooed over such moments now cry foul, arguing it commodifies family for commerce.

Defenders counter that it's harmless joy-sharing in a Montecito bubble, but the volume of vitriol suggests deeper gripes with As Ever's post-Netflix trajectory, perhaps, or the Sussexes' endless reinvention.

Netflix's rep lauded Meghan's 'enthusiasm for enhancing everyday experiences,' yet their exit leaves her hustling solo amid tepid sales whispers. No official riposte from Team Markle yet, silence that only fuels the fray.

One can't ignore the irony: a bloom box meant to soothe now stirs the hive. Will it boost sales or bury the brand under boycotts? The photos linger online, Lilibet's tiny form at the heart of the storm, as Meghan Markle presses on, unbowed.