Meghan Markle’s $64 Mother’s Day Candles Are Named After Her Children’s Royal Titles and the Palace Calls It “Outrageous”

Meghan Markle Draws Criticism Over $64 Candle Promotion Referencing Archie and Lilibet@Netflix/YouTube and @meghan/Instagram

Meghan Markle has drawn criticism this week after using her children’s royal titles in promotional material for her candle line from her AsEver range on Mother’s Day. According to reports, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have registered their children’s names for emails, social media handles and domain names, prompting questions about how the couple plans to leverage the royal titles publicly.

The promotional material of Markle’s AsEver brand was released on Wednesday as part of the Mother’s Day collection. It suggests that it will sell two scented candles for $64: No. 506 for “Prince Archie of Sussex’s Birthdate,” and No. 604 for “Princess Lilibet of Sussex’s Birthdate.

According to Page Six, the move hasn’t gone well with the palace, which calls the sales pitch “an outrageous use of their titles.” A palace source said the late Queen Elizabeth II never intended for the Sussex family to profit from the HRH titles.

The report references the couple’s earlier agreement not to commercially exploit their royal titles after stepping down from their royal roles in 2020. Harry and Meghan’s children, Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, were officially made HRH when their grandfather, King Charles, ascended the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022. The royal family’s official website listed both children with their HRH titles.

A Page Six report earlier noted that the children have stationery featuring the HRH titles, though they are not expected to take on official royal duties as adults.

The latest report by the publication states that Harry and Markle have secured their children’s names for emails, social media handles, and domain names. Though it can be viewed as a common practice, an industry insider said using the children’s names while they are still minors raises different concerns. “It’s not about safeguarding the children — that’s understandable. It’s what you plan to do with [it] that’s the key,” the insider said.

Despite using the children’s names in her marketing, Markle has been careful not to feature their photographs. A source shared with the publication, “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. She’s not parading the children around at events. She never shows their faces.”

In addition, Markle has also used her daughter, Lilibet’s nickname, Lili, in Instagram photos and videos to promote her lifestyle range. Without revealing their full faces, she has posted them, labeling them “mama’s little helpers” in gardening or cooking scenes.

The Page Six report notes that Signature Candle No. 506 is associated with Archie’s birthday. The fragrance is described as “a warm, comforting scent … bringing a soft, familiar ease into the room,” featuring notes of ginger, neroli and cashmere — the product description does not explain the connection, though observers have noted the possible reference to Archie’s red hair.

Meanwhile, Signature Candle No. 604 is described as “a light, floral scent inspired by Princess Lilibet of Sussex’s birthdate, adding a sense of brightness and openness to the home,” with notes of amber, sandalwood and water lily — a combination some have linked to her name, Lilibet.