The Duchess of Sussex has been busy reshaping her career as a lifestyle influencer with her brand As Ever and Netflix shows, but one expert has warned she could be making a huge mistake in 2026
Meghan Markle has been issued a stark warning about her brand’s prospects this year, as speculation grows around her upcoming business plans.
The Duchess of Sussex spent 2025 shaping her career as a lifestyle influencer, launching her brand As Ever, debuting her Netflix programme With Love, Meghan, and introducing her podcast series Confessions of a Female Founder.
Recent reports suggest Meghan intends to concentrate on her lifestyle brand in the coming months, with claims she’s been developing a cookbook – expected to arrive this spring. However, a PR pro has delivered a 12-word caution to the Duchess, emphasising she must prioritise one crucial element to cement her position in the industry.
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Renae Smith, founder of PR and branding firm The Atticism, told the Express: “A lifestyle brand without a lifestyle point of view doesn’t go far.” Ms Smith warned that should Meghan maintain her present approach, her brand is unlikely to achieve substantial growth moving forward.
She explained: “From a PR perspective, if she continues on the current trajectory (sporadic product drops, mixed messaging, and a lack of clarity between personal, commercial, and cause-driven work) then 2026 could feel like more of the same: weird visibility, pockets of fan engagement, and very little long-term brand equity being built.”
“If As Ever is going to be a core focus, she really needs to professionalise it. That means structure. Seasonal drops are fine, but not when they’re surrounded by long silences or conflicting statements. She needs a clear calendar, consistent storytelling, and a stronger sense of what the brand stands for beyond aesthetic nostalgia. A lifestyle brand without a lifestyle point of view doesn’t go far, at least not in any meaningful way.”
On the subject of the Duchess’s reported cookbook project, she continued: “Now, if she’s serious about doing a cookbook, I think that could work for her fanbase, if it’s positioned correctly. Not just another influencer-style product, but something rooted in story. Draw on her family history, culinary rituals, and cultural influences.
“If executed with warmth and authenticity, it could be a smart way to reposition herself as more grounded and connected to something real. But the execution would need to be watertight: tone, visuals, media rollout, the whole thing. If we were advising her, the first thing we’d say is: Stop thinking in moments. You don’t need to say yes to everything. Start building a narrative. Create brand rhythm and strategy. Pick a lane and commit to it.”
It comes as Meghan is reportedly planning to return to the UK for the first time in four years. The Duchess is set to visit one of the Invictus Games events in Birmingham on July 10, if the couple’s security is approved. It would be her first time back since attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.
