Buckingham Palace's Subtle Shade at Meghan Markle's Strawberry Jam

Buckingham Palace has released an ad for their strawberry preserve, days after Meghan Markle debuted her own strawberry jam as part of her new lifestyle brand. Royal fans have accused the Palace of shading Markle with the timing of the ad.

Buckingham Palace has found itself in the midst of an unexpected PR battle with Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex. The Palace's official Instagram account for its gift shop, Buckingham Palace Shop, recently posted a video plugging its strawberry preserve. The promo clip was shared just days after Markle, 42, debuted her own strawberry jam, which was the first product to be released from her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.

The timing of the Palace's ad has raised eyebrows among royal watchers, who have accused the institution of shading Markle. The video was posted on Wednesday, just three days after Markle's jam made its debut. Many have interpreted the move as a subtle dig at the Duchess, who has been critical of the monarchy in the past.

The caption for the Palace's ad was also seen as a bit pointed. "Our Strawberry Preserve is made using only the finest berries and is delicious served in a variety of ways," the caption reads. The use of the word "finest" could be seen as a subtle reference to Markle's jam, which is made with organic strawberries.

Royal fans were quick to take to social media to voice their opinions on the matter. "Is it just me that loves the subtle shade?" one Instagram user wrote. "Im dying at the timings (sic) of this ad," another fan added. "And that's how you promote a product," one follower noted.

However, some royal fans defended the Palace, arguing that the timing of the ad was simply a coincidence. They pointed out that Buckingham Palace Shop frequently posts about its products on social media, regardless of what other events are happening.

The Palace has not commented on the accusations of shading. However, the incident has once again highlighted the strained relationship between Markle and the monarchy. The Duchess has been outspoken in her criticism of the institution, and her decision to launch her own lifestyle brand has been seen by some as a further sign of her independence.

Meanwhile, American Riviera Orchard has not yet released its strawberry jam for sale. The brand's website states that the jam is "coming soon," but it does not provide a specific release date. However, fans can join a waitlist on the website to be notified when the jam becomes available.

In addition to the strawberry jam, American Riviera Orchard is also expected to release a range of other products, including cosmetics, gardening tools, and homeware. The brand's trademark applications indicate that it may also eventually expand into food spreads, tableware, and cookbooks.

Markle has not publicly commented on the accusations of shading by Buckingham Palace. However, her actions seem to indicate that she is not interested in a reconciliation with the monarchy. The Duchess has continued to distance herself from the institution, and her new lifestyle brand is a clear indication that she is focused on her own future.