Bagels, Deleted Photos and a Wickless Candle. Meghan Markle Faces Another Week of Online Backlash

Meghan Markle is under renewed scrutiny after a series of lifestyle posts from her As Ever brand prompted widespread criticism online. Viewers mocked her “festive breakfast spread” video, questioned why Kardashian party photos featuring the Sussexes were deleted, and debated whether Meghan is leaning on celebrity allies to bolster her brand. A viral unboxing video also alleged that an As Ever candle arrived without a wick, sparking further ridicule. Analysts say her recent fashion choices signal a deliberate rebranding as she continues promoting As Ever.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Calorogus Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace intrig Game.
Your host Mark Francis. Meghan Michael's lifestyle videos have once
again stirred up controversy, this time over bagels. The Duchess
of Sussex shared a clip on her as Ever Instagram
page showing followers how to make a festive breakfast spread

(00:25):
using the brand's fifteen dollars edible flour sprinkles. In the
short video, Megan scoops cream cheese onto a plate, decorates
it with sliced strawberries and petals, and serves it with
four untoasted bagel halves, all set to dadou ron Ron
by the Crystals. The post, captioned strawberry one of Oprah's

(00:45):
favorite things don't miss out, was meant to promote as
Ever's Christmas gift collection. Instead, it prompted a wave of
online mockery, with critics calling the recipe clueless, inexperienced, and
instagram over substance. What in the ever loving fresh hours? Yes,
so now to serve cream cheese, We're smearing it on
a plate, throwing leaves on it and calling it elevated.

(01:06):
One use it fumed on x Another wrote, cream, cheese
and jam on a bageler's college dorm food, except even
a college kid would toast it first. Others criticized Megan's
food handling etiquette, noting that she prepared the dish one
wearing multiple gold rings and bracelets. One commenter suggested, you
take off your jewelry, you wash your hands, and then
you're good. I would never touch anything that even touches

(01:27):
out cooks. God knows if she poisons you. Food critics
also questioned her culinary schools, with one saying you can
tell by the way she chops the strawberries that she's
very inexperienced with cooking. One viewer remarked, while another said
the clip felt more like a lesson in food decoration
than actual cooking. It's not the first time Megan's kitchen
experiments have backfired. Earlier this month, she was ridiculed for

(01:48):
sharing a mulled water recipe made with her sixteen dollars
spiced side up mulling spice kit, a concoction one fan
compared to air freshener in mugs. Internets Lose are trying
to determine why the Kardashians delete and party photos showing
the Sussexes mingling with other party goers. According to celebrity
gossip outlet Des Noirs, some insiders believe the deletions were

(02:13):
prompted by criticism over Meghan's outfit. The Duchess reportedly wasn't
wearing a remembrance poppy, a small but highly symbolic gesture
in the UK each November, and the omission may have
been seen as controversial given the timing. However, another report
from Rob's Shooter's Shooter Scoop suggests the move had nothing
to do with optics and everything to do with control.

(02:35):
They were polite but firm. Nothing goes online without their
sign off, as source said, they built their brand on control,
and they weren't about to let a Kardashian post ruin that.
If that's true, it didn't say well. The famously headstrong
Jena matriarch Chris doesn't like being told what to do,
especially not by royals who live in Montecito. One insider
told the outlet. She said, if Meggie and Harry want control,

(02:57):
they can have it, just not on her guest list.
Meghan Michael is doubling down on as ever, but not
without sparking chatter about how she's pulling it off. The
Duke of Sussex hosted the soft launch at Godmother's, a
local bookstore co owned by friends, where she showcased as
Eva's Candles, teas and fruit spreads. The display coincided with

(03:17):
a major promotional boost Oprah Winfrey adding an as ever
gift box to her annual Favorite Things list, but the
timing led some to question whether Meghan is leaning heavily
on her famous circle to keep momentum alive. A pr
insider told Radar Online it's classic celebrity crisis management. Meghan's
sales clearly need a boost, so she's calling and favors

(03:40):
famous friends, friendly stores, and Oprah's spotlight, But instead of
looking savvy, it comes off as a little desperate. The
reportals are noted a same day email campaign offering ten
percent off her beloved spreads, viewed as a push to
translate publicity into sales. Local reactions were mixed. One Montecito
resident described the events stage managed. People around here are amused.

(04:03):
She talks like she's building an empire, but it looks
more like she's just helping out at her friend's bootigue.
As one insiders summed up, she's doing everything she can
to make as Ever work, and she's not afraid to
call in a few wealthy pals to help her do it.
An American influencer has ignited even more Megan mockery after
claiming that the sixty four dollar candle he purchased arrived

(04:25):
without a wick link. Lauren, a twenty six year old
conservative commentator nicknamed Mega Malfoy because of his resemblance to
a Harry Potter character. But we don't have time for that,
posted an unboxing video of as Ever's signature candle number
eight four, which is marketed as capturing the scent of
Megan and Prince Harry's Montecito home. Mid review, Lauren burst

(04:46):
into laughter, declaring there's no wick and inviting his camera
operator to zoom and improve it. I got markled, he
wrote in the caption, there's no wick. Kind of a
metaphor for her career. Nothing's lighting. Social media quickly piled on.
One commented joke that the wik was sold separately, while
another equipped well in these challenging economic times, the candle

(05:07):
will last forever. Others called it the sixty four dollars
wickless candle. The entire brand in a nutshell. Lauren told
followers he planned to request a refund, insisting I have
the video of me opening brand new. They can't argue
with facts. Not everyone bought the story, though some fans
suggested the candle had been tampered with before filming. The

(05:27):
candle looks like it was made with a WK and
someone pulled it out, one user wrote, while another questioned,
how do we know you didn't take the wick out yourself?
The box was already open when you hit record. The
as ever, candle in question number eight four takes its
name from Megan's August fourth birthday and features notes of
water lotus, sandal wooden California poppy. It was part of

(05:47):
the Duchess's recently launched Christmas collection, released alongside her upcoming
Netflix special with Meghan. In his review, Lauren conceded that
the candle probably does smell like Meghan Mark's bathroom, but
concluded it's a no for me. The Daily Mail suggests
Megan Michael's wardrobe is sending a message and it's written
in white. In recent months, the Duchess has made the

(06:09):
shade her calling card from a sweeping balance the ogre
cape at Paris Fashion Week to a string of sleek
monochrome suits and soft knits in her as Ever lifestyle campaigns.
Her festive advert for the brand showed her in a
white sweater and matching trousers pouring tea in Golden California. Light.
Every frame curated, every detail deliberate. According to colour psychologist

(06:33):
Jewels Standish, that's no coincidence. Megan is constantly reinventing herself
on the colour white gives a sense of optimism, making
it the perfect shade for her. She told The Daily Mail.
It's pure, It projects calmness and perfection, and it signals
sophistication with a no nonsense edge. It's a brave move
to where a White Standish explained, You're not hiding anything.

(06:54):
It's a statement of confidence, openness and control. And control
is precisely what Megaan seems to be aiming for more
Palasan just a moment. With all the recent chaos, the
Princess Royal just goes about her duty. The ABC fawned
over her as Juliet Ryden recapped the recent Australian tour

(07:16):
by writing, it was early on Saturday morning when Princess
Anne flew into Sydney for a packed four days of
engagements across three capital cities. Some commenters suggested the lack
of fanfare and access to the Royal was designed to
keep media away and avoid awkward questions about the scandals
surrounding her brother, the newly demoted Andrew Mountbatten Winsor. But

(07:38):
the plans for the Princess Royal's Australian tour had been
in the diary for more than a year and it
was always going to be a tightly focused military mission
to celebrate the centenary of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals,
of which she is Colonel in chief. Early interview requests
pitched by the ABC months ago were politely declined. Pallace
advisors explained that the aim of this trip would be

(07:59):
to pat tri, tribute to, and spend time with Australia's
military and their families, and that is certainly what transpired.
This was not a Royal pr offensive. There were wreath laid,
ceremonies held, and even done the uniform of the Australian
Army for the first time, complete with a conic slouch hat.
If the Princess Royal was nervous, She certainly didn't show it,

(08:20):
nor did the Palace fill the need to engage minders
the royal families most consummate professional had this On balance,
the low key temperature of this tour resulted in a
warm feeling of connection rather than alienation from the monarchy,
which will surely please the Palace. As a regular visitor
to these shores she first came back in nineteen seventy,
Princess Anne was welcomed with open arms. Whether it's been

(08:42):
enough to repair the damage to the Monarchy's brand wrought
by Andrew Mountbatten Windsor remains to be seen. During her
visit to Singapore's National Orchid Garden, the possible former royal
sex bomb was seen wearing a vivid, glossy raspberry lipstick,
a striking departure from the beige and blush tones favored
by most of her relatives. She paired the bold lip

(09:04):
with her signature softly powdered complexion, a neat performed hairstyle,
and a sunshine yellow blazer that matched the cheerful tone
of her look. Makeup artist Bobby Brown says anyone can
take a cue from Anne's confidence without going full scarlet.
There are rosy shades, pinky hues, and nudes with a
hint of pink. It's really about your style and there

(09:26):
you have it. If you like to email us addresses
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nice review. If you're joining the show, I'm Mark Francis
My thanks to John mcdermmy. This is Palace Intrigue and
good times.