Every so often, someone stumbles into the royal media cycle and decides to ride the wave — pinkies up, of course. The Jelly Queen’s response to her name appearing next to Meghan Markle’s in a Daily Mail article is one such example. Ostensibly framed as whimsical and warm-hearted, her open letter is less about “grace” and more about strategic self-insertion into a controversy she didn’t earn and doesn’t understand AND THEN QUICKLY FLIPS!

Let’s be clear: the Daily Mail didn’t “associate” her with Meghan Markle as a compliment. It used her brand to build yet another tabloid narrative, likely without nuance or permission. Rather than reject the platform or even acknowledge the problematic nature of the press that targets Meghan with persistent racialized narratives, the Jelly Queen smiles for the cameras, serves tea, and offers a performative “thanks.”

There’s no harm in leveraging media for brand visibility — entrepreneurs do it every day. But when that strategy leans on a public figure who is routinely vilified, misrepresented, and harassed — and when it does so without acknowledging that context — it becomes opportunism, not elegance.

And then there’s the faux-feminist flourish: “under immense pressure,” “resilience and reinvention,” “honored to collaborate.” These are empty buzzwords that mask a clear attempt to benefit from Markle’s cultural capital while subtly distancing from the actual criticism she faces. Let’s not pretend that a jam business in Texas is a natural ally in the struggle against gendered and racialized media attacks.

At a time when Meghan Markle is once again being dissected, ridiculed, and targeted simply for launching a lifestyle brand, it would have been powerful to see a fellow woman entrepreneur say:
“I don’t appreciate being used in tabloid narratives that weaponize identity and brand. Meghan deserves better than this.”

But that’s not what happened.

Instead, we got a PR spin designed to capitalize on the moment — one that hides behind teacups and hashtags, while failing to understand that true grace often looks like refusing the spotlight, not dancing in it.

AND THEN THERE WAS BACKLASH

Not the Tea, Not the Truth: The Jelly Queen Walks Back Her Markle Moment
When brand strategy meets backlash, the result is usually a notes app apology — or in this case, a teacup-shaped clarification. On June 22, The Jelly Queen issued a “Royal Clarification” insisting she has never criticized Meghan Markle and accusing the media of twisting her words into clickbait. But here’s the sticky part: her original post was full of carefully choreographed praise, yes — but also unmistakably eager self-insertion into Meghan’s narrative, timed for maximum visibility.

Let’s not pretend this was a tabloid trap. No one forced The Jelly Queen to lean into her association with Meghan Markle, quote herself in pinky-raising gratitude, or promote her Mismatched Teacup Society while indirectly basking in the glow (and controversy) of one of the most polarizing figures in modern royal media. She did that willingly.

And now that the association isn’t trending the way she expected — now that supporters of Meghan Markle are questioning the taste (and tastefulness) of the move — we’re suddenly being told it was all misunderstood?

This isn’t about jam. This is about judgment.

What this “clarification” reveals isn’t media distortion, but how quickly small brands try to capitalize on cultural moments without fully understanding the politics they’re entering. Meghan Markle isn’t just a celebrity. She’s a symbol — of race, gender, power, and press aggression. Attaching yourself to her name for viral reach is always going to be high-risk.

If you want to stand with her, do so without the branding fluff. Say it clearly:
“I don’t want to be used in headlines that weaponize Meghan Markle.”
“I reject the framing that pits women against each other.”
“I won’t benefit from the backlash she endures.”

But that’s not what The Jelly Queen did. She curated a charming distraction, sprinkled with empowerment language and jam metaphors, while quietly stepping away from the fire she helped light.

Grace under pressure? Meghan has it. The Jelly Queen — for all her award-winning preserves — should have preserved some self-awareness.