Royal commentators have previously said there is ‘nothing accidental’ about Meghan Markle’s timings. From the red jumpsuit she wore for a photo shoot in 2022 – the pictures being released on the same day as the Royal Family’s new portrait – to the trailer for their Netflix documentary being dropped just one day after Kate Middleton and Prince William landed in the US for the Earthshot Prize. The list is seemingly endless.
And now, following an annus horribilis for the Sussexes, as their projects have waned and their popularity continues to plummet, an insider reveals that this festive period will see Meghan launch a major charm offensive.
The source says, ‘Meghan has been meticulously curating gift packages filled with a selection of all her favourite things – and of course, plenty of her jam – to send to the who’s who of Hollywood.’
‘While there is no doubt it’s about promoting her American Riviera Orchard brand, it’s also about spreading goodwill and trying to remind people of her softer side. With Christmas around the corner, Meghan sees it as the perfect time to try to rebuild connections and is determined not to start 2025 surrounded by negativity. She’s been feeling increasingly lonely recently and wants to concentrate on strengthening friendships.’
Meghan and Harry seemed to have a solid group of A-list pals, with Oprah Winfrey, the Clooneys and the Beckhams attending their 2018 wedding, but over the years there have been rumours of fall-outs and fizzled friendships.
They reportedly fell out with the Beckhams, with Meghan allegedly ‘accusing them of leaking stories,’ something David and Victoria have neither confirmed nor denied. And last week, Brooklyn Beckham seemed to fuel to the rumours when he ignored a question on the Sussexes in an interview. When asked about his friendship with the royals, Brooklyn instead turned the conversation to Prince William and said, ‘He’s the sweetest guy ever. He’s really down to earth, a good guy.’
But Meghan hasn’t stopped trying to cultivate a celebrity circle. Softly launching her lifestyle brans in March, Meghan, 43, sent 50 jars of strawberry jam to some of Hollywood’s biggest power players.
However, despite only a handful of close friends choosing to promote her new brand amid her and Harry’s toxic feud with the Royal Family, the insider reveals that Meghan hasn’t been deterred – in fact, she’s more determined than ever to build bridges.
They add, ‘She’s sending them out to all her friends and acquaintances, and is willing to spend a fortune and a whole lot of time because she sees it as an investment in her relationships.’
The news of Meghan’s festive splash-out comes after months of setbacks for the couple, who stepped down as senior working royals in 2020.
As their feud with the royals rumbled on, polls in the UK and the US showed that their era as Hollywood’s new golden couple had abruptly come to an end – a jolt back to reality that has seen Harry, 40, begin to engage in numerous solo trips across New York, London, and South Africa.
Meanwhile, in August, it was reported that their £78 million deal with Netflix is under threat and may not be renewed next year, with insiders calling it ‘the worst deal in Hollywood history.’ At the time it was also revealed that Meghan’s lifestyle and cookery show has been delayed until next year.
A month later, Meghan was hit by another hurdle when trading officials declined her application to trademark America Riviera Orchard - claiming that it refers to her hometown of Montecito, with applicants unable to trademark a location.
Now the insider says Meghan is willing to take the plunge when it comes to salvaging her reputation this Christmas – even extending an olive branch to Kate Middleton and Victoria Beckham.
The source adds, ‘She’s reaching out to people who aren’t necessarily so fond of her, like Kate, Queen Camilla, the Clooneys and the Beckhams. She’s very eager to set the tone of peace for next year as one of peace and forgiveness.’
The news that Harry and Meghan – who are parents to Archie, five, and Lilibet, three – purchased a luxury property in Portugal last month also sparked reports of a reconciliation with the royals.
An insider recently told Closer, ‘The good news in that she and the kids can make their Portugal home a base and she can fly over to the UK for a few hours with Harry to make her presence felt.’
‘Times are different now. She realises that she and Harry can’t go on with this cold war and that she needs to swallow her pride.’
And while it was recently revealed that Meghan has put her foot down and demanded that Harry spend Christmas in California after spending large amounts of time apart while he has travelled over the past two months, the source says she wants 2025 to be a fresh start.
The insider reveals, ‘Meghan is stepping into 2025 with a sense of optimism and intention. She sees it as the perfect time to turn the page and make a fresh start.’
‘Yes, at times certain snubs have felt very personal, but she’s worked hard to move past that. She admits that her public image could use some work, but she doesn’t see it as an impossible job.’
‘She just hopes that her “forgiveness” will be reciprocated and that she gets the outcome that she wants from all of this. Only time will tell.’