Meghan Markle Is Accused of 'Begging for Positive Coverage' After Sending Influencers Curated Gift Boxes From Her Brand

Meghan Markle is being accused of "begging for positive online publicity" after sending promotional gift boxes to high-profile influencers to promote her recent lifestyle products.

The Duchess of Sussex launched a new "Mother's Day Edit" through her As Ever brand on April 20, shortly following her return to her home in Montecito. The collection dropped shortly after her return from a controversial Australia tour with Prince Harry.

According to RadarOnline, the gift box included two candles priced at $63 each, and the product is said to be inspired by her children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, with their royal titles also being referenced in the promotional materials.

The Signature Candle No. 506 reflects Archie's May 6 birthdate, and Signature Candle No. 604 marks Lilibet's June 4 birthday. The gift boxes, valued at approximately $155, were distributed to prominent U.S.-based influencers ahead of the April 22 release such as Carly, who has more than 460,000 Instagram followers, and Kristina Zias, who has nearly 350,000 followers.

However, this move from the Duchess has sparked criticism, and people are also stating that she might be shaping online narratives via carefully targeted promotion.

A source responding to the backlash said, "There is a growing perception that this is an absolutely desperate ploy to generate favorable coverage by placing products directly into the hands of influencers who can amplify positive messaging – it comes across as her begging for positive coverage as part of a calculated attempt to reset the narrative around her brand."

Another source said, "The scale and timing of the outreach suggests a degree of urgency – it feels as though there is a concerted push to flood social media with supportive content, using gifts and curated experiences to encourage endorsements at a time when scrutiny has been intense. It feels a bit pathetic and almost exploitative of influencers' platforms, as they'll feel obliged to give positive posts after getting freebies."

The influencers who received the packages shared posts about the products on their social media accounts, which include gourmet chocolates from the Los Angeles-based brand Compartés and a handwritten note from Meghan. The message in there showcased her motherhood as well as the inspiration behind the scents.

Markle said, "I developed the scents over the last year so that every note melded together to take me right back to a special memory with them." She added, "I can light the candle, close my eyes, and I'm right there. The memorable moments of motherhood."