£21 Honey Isn’t Outrageous—The Mirror’s Double Standard Is

The Daily Mirror’s recent headline about Meghan Markle’s As Ever product launch zeroes in on one thing: price. “Outrageous,” it declares, shocked that a jar of orange blossom honey retails for £21. The implication? That this is somehow unreasonable, a symbol of celebrity detachment and royal hypocrisy. But what’s actually outrageous is the distortion of value and intent in this coverage.

Let’s step back. Meghan Markle isn’t the first celebrity to launch a luxury lifestyle brand. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop regularly sells $150 face oils and $80 toothpaste. Kim Kardashian markets shapewear and home products at premium prices. Harrods sells honey for £500 a jar. Fortnum & Mason’s afternoon tea kits cost more than a family dinner. None of these draw tabloid outrage. But Meghan? She sells honey and jam, and it’s treated as a scandal.

The truth is far simpler—and more grounded in consumer behavior than the headlines allow. People aren’t buying Meghan Markle. They’re buying good jam. They’re buying honey that tastes like citrus groves in bloom, and arrives in a keepsake jar that elevates a breakfast table. They’re buying the story, the sourcing, the packaging, and the ritual of enjoying something rare and lovely. That’s how luxury branding works. You’re not just purchasing a product. You’re buying an experience.

What’s more, As Ever doesn’t pretend to be a mass-market brand. It doesn’t position itself as “accessible to all.” Instead, it’s curated for people who value quality over quantity. It’s for the consumer who enjoys a weekend farmer’s market or a well-designed dinner party. And judging by how fast As Ever products sell out, there’s a robust market for that—whether or not the tabloids approve.

It’s telling that the Mirror calls the price “outrageous,” but offers no real comparison. There’s no mention that artisanal honey in boutique shops commonly costs £15–£40. There’s no reference to the handmade preserves sold at upscale grocers. It’s easier to attack than contextualize.

This pattern—of singling out Meghan for behavior that is entirely normal in other contexts—reveals more about media hostility than about As Ever’s pricing. When Kate Middleton wears £500 heels, it’s elegance. When Meghan sells £21 honey, it’s excess. The double standard is no longer subtle; it’s structural.

But here’s what the tabloids consistently underestimate: taste. Because when people say As Ever jam is good—they mean it. Meghan’s products are winning over customers not because of celebrity, but despite it. Many customers who purchase from As Ever are repeat buyers. They want more of what she’s offering. Not Meghan herself, but the product—delivered with care, wrapped in a story, and infused with intention.

Meghan understands the lifestyle space better than many give her credit for. She’s building something that aligns with her public values: mindfulness, sustainability, and craft. Whether it’s the crepe mix, shortbread, or the orange blossom honey, the mission remains the same: elevate the ordinary. Make slow living aspirational again.

The real problem for critics isn’t the jam. It’s that Meghan is succeeding without them. She’s bypassing the royal PR machine, the legacy media, and the press office filters. She’s speaking directly to her market, and they’re listening—not because of who she married, but because of what she makes.

So no, people are not buying Meghan. They’re buying something beautiful, something well-made, something delicious. And if that offends the tabloids, perhaps the real issue isn’t the price of honey—it’s the cost of letting a woman thrive on her own terms.