Duchess Meghan’s new lifestyle website has been taken over by someone believed to be a fan of Duchess Kate.
The UK domain name for her latest venture, American Riviera Orchard, was purchased by a user with a link to the UK-based charity Trussell Trust.
US web links are working normally, but visitors who click on the UK site are redirected to a page asking them to donate to charity.
“Forgiveness. Permission. Please donate to the Trussell Trust,” it says on the website’s home page.
The JustGiving page added: “Not Meghan. I hope Meghan doesn’t mind. My thoughts are with Catherine. x”
A brief description of the charity and its work is also included on the site, with a goal of raising $1,200. As of Friday morning, $9,800 in donations had been raised.
Trussell Trust spokeswoman Sophie Carre told the paper: “The charity is not affiliated with the domain of this website and has no knowledge of who set it up.”
“Following the Commission’s guidance, we cannot refuse donations unless they meet certain requirements. The website clearly states that donations are in support of the Trussell Trust, so we are unable to refuse donations unless they meet certain requirements. The funds will not meet the requirements for rejection.”
“All donations received by the Trussell Trust will be invested to support our work to eliminate the need for food banks in the UK,” they concluded.
The newspaper has contacted Markle’s representatives and Kensington Palace for comment.
American Riviera Orchard US’s website is currently blank and simply asks visitors to enter their email if they would like to receive notifications from the brand about “products, availability, and updates.”
The digital mishap comes just days after Markle’s celebrity pals flooded social media to boast about the American Riviera Orchard gift the Suits alum sent her.
Mindy Kaling and Tracee Ellis Ross, award-winning actresses and long-time friends of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were two of the 50 people to receive jam jars from Markle.
Designer Tracy Robbins and Delfina Braquier, an Argentinian model and wife of Prince Harry’s best friend and polo player Nacho Figueras, each received Markle’s strawberry jelly.
