Meghan Markle defends her business ventures after quitting royal duties: ‘I need to work’

nypost.com:

New York Times in an interview published Wednesday and defended taking on various business ventures, such as her Netflix show, “With Love, Meghan,” and her newly-launched As Ever lifestyle brand, following her and Prince Harry’s 2020 exit from the royal family.“I need to work, and I love to work,” said Markle.The “Suits” alum also said that, before she met Harry, 40, in 2016, she wasn’t without a job since she was 13.And given that she now has two kids, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, Markle said, “This is a way I can connect my home life and my work.”Markle and Harry quit their royal duties in January 2020, less than two years after their wedding, and moved to Montecito, California, where they own a $14 million mansion.Since starting their new life in America, the couple has released multiple Netflix shows, including Markle’s cooking series that was trashed by critics and failed to make a splash in viewership upon its release last month.Additionally, Markle had her own podcast with Spotify, called “Archetypes,” but the $20 million deal fell through in 2023.

Her new podcast with Lemonada Media, titled “Confessions of a Female Founder,” will premiere next week. The mom of two on Wednesday launched her lifestyle brand, which was rebranded from American Riviera Orchard to As Ever.

Markle’s first product drop, which is already sold out, includes her signature raspberry jam, several types of herbal teas, crepe mix, shortbread cookies and more.