Meghan Markle's new Montecito inner circle: from polo wives to Britney's stylist
Diana Ross’ Emmy-nominated daughter. The fashion designer wife of the Paramount Pictures president. Britney Spears’ former stylist and the Suits co-star who stuck up for her in that 2022 Netflix documentary.
These were just some of the 50 recipients of the Duchess of Sussex’s first batch of limited-edition jam — the first product from her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard (ARO), announced last month and set to formally launch later this spring.
Netflix star Mindy Kaling, parenting campaigner Kelly McKee Zajfen and socialite Delfina Blaquier are among those to have posted pictures with hampers of Meghan’s hand-numbered strawberry preserve so far — names that insiders say offer a fascinating window into the duchess’ new and ever-changing inner circle of California power players.
“She has a small, tight-knit group of women she’s surrounded by,” New York Post editor Sara Nathan says of the duchess’ fresh set of influential female allies since beginning her PR blitz for ARO. “Most of them are incredibly wealthy and often married to very important men. But they’re doing projects in their own right, usually in charity or philanthropy.”
Indeed, most names on the list so far are certainly of a very specific ilk: California-based, moneyed, successful, often with their own business that Meghan may have supported, too, over the years. Many have seemed enthusiastic in championing Meghan and her new venture. But many more have stayed quiet — just seven people, all except one of them women, have shared pictures of their exclusive gift on social media so far.
What of figures like Oprah Winfrey and Katharine McPhee, known to have played key roles in Meghan’s support bubble over the years since she and Harry moved to California? Do the numbers really speak to each person’s place in the inner circle? And who else was on the list but hasn’t chosen to share it publicly?
From the pilates pal she and Harry went skiing with last month to the new celebrity stylist she’s hired as part of her rebrand, here’s who’s in the duchess’ 2024 inner circle.
Abigail Spencer
In a nutshell: Close friend and former Suits co-star
Jam jar number out of 50: 6
Did Meghan hand-deliver the jars herself? That’s the question being asked after Spencer’s post over the weekend, which features a surprise appearance from the Sussexes’ pet dog
