Meghan Markle is once again drawing criticism, this time over $64 candles. The Duchess of Sussex unveiled a Mother’s Day collection under her lifestyle brand, As Ever, featuring two signature candles tied to her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. One candle, Signature Candle No. 506, is described as a “warm, comforting scent inspired by Prince Archie of Sussex’s birthdate,” which falls on May 6. The second candle, No. 604, is linked to Lilibet’s June 4 birthday.
Both candles are marketed using the children’s royal titles in promotional materials, even though the actual packaging does not carry their names on the label. A palace insider told Page Six that the use of the titles in marketing was “an outrageous use of their titles,” adding that it crosses a line between personal branding and royal protocol.
The same source also noted that the late Queen Elizabeth II never intended for the Sussex family to profit from their official royal titles — a concern that became central when the couple stepped back from their royal duties in 2020.
Separately, Page Six also reported that Prince Harry and Meghan have trademarked Archie and Lilibet’s names and claimed matching email addresses, social media handles and domain names. Insiders say the trademark step itself is not yet viewed as a problem, but that could change depending on future commercial use. “It’s not about safeguarding the children (…) It’s what you plan to do with [it] that’s the key,” one source noted.
When Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties, they also agreed to stop using their HRH titles publicly. Archie and Lilibet were born as “Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor” and “Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor” but were granted the titles of prince and princess when King Charles acceded to the throne in 2022. Critics contend those titles were not intended for marketing.
The candle inspired by Archie features notes of ginger, neroli and cashmere, with the ginger widely read as a nod to the 6-year-old’s red hair. The scent is described in marketing materials as bringing “a warm, comforting scent … bringing a soft, familiar ease into the room.” The second candle, inspired by 4-year-old Lilibet, carries notes of amber, water lily and santal.
As Ever describes it as bringing “a sense of brightness and openness.”
A source close to the duchess pushed back on the criticism, insisting that Markle has been “very tasteful” in how she involves her children. “She’s not parading the children around at events. She never shows their faces,” the source said. The same insider framed the candles as part of a broader theme. “The candles are specifically part of a Mother’s Day line that weaves in something special in honor of your kids. Meghan is a mom, and her brand is about hosting and entertaining and family,” the source added.
Meghan and Prince Harry maintain a policy of not showing their children’s faces in online photos out of respect for their privacy. However, as part of promoting As Ever, Meghan has featured her children in videos shared online, with the children shown working in the kitchen and garden of their Montecito home in footage captioned “Mama’s little helpers.”
Despite support from those in her circle, one social media user wrote, “How sad to grow up with parents who claim to be the most bullied people in the world, yet repeatedly force their kids into the global spotlight just for publicity and merch.” Others on X called on King Charles to strip the Sussex titles entirely. Still others called the move “absolutely disgraceful” and accused Meghan of using the children’s titles to sell products.
Neither Harry nor Meghan has otherwise publicly addressed the speculation.