Meghan Markle’s As Ever Plan Faces Major Setback as Princess Eugenie Reportedly Pulls Away
Meghan Markle’s reported hopes of involving Princess Eugenie in the future of her lifestyle brand As Ever could face an unexpected obstacle as fresh claims suggest the royal cousins once close relationship is becoming more complicated.
The Duchess of Sussex has reportedly considered how Eugenie might help strengthen the brand’s identity, bringing a familiar royal connection to its next chapter. However, there has been no public confirmation from Meghan or the Princess of York that such a business collaboration has ever been discussed.
Meghan and Prince Harry have maintained a friendship with Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, for years. Their relationship has attracted attention because Eugenie has remained connected to the Sussexes despite their decision to step back from official royal duties in 2020 and relocate to California.
Eugenie’s friendship with the couple continued to feature in public discussions after their departure from Britain. She even appeared in the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, which explored the couple’s experiences within the monarchy and their decision to build a life outside the institution.
Their connection also endured the release of Harry’s memoir, Spare, in 2023, which brought renewed scrutiny to the relationships between the Sussexes and other members of the Royal Family.
Yet reports now suggest that maintaining those friendships may have become more difficult as pressure surrounding the wider royal family continues.
Eugenie’s parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, have faced renewed scrutiny over their past associations with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender. The controversy has kept attention focused on the York family and the complicated position its members occupy within the monarchy.
Neither Eugenie nor her older sister, Princess Beatrice, has been accused of participating in Epstein’s crimes. Their position should therefore be distinguished from the scrutiny surrounding their parents and their respective associations.
According to the reports, Eugenie is said to be increasingly cautious about maintaining the same level of contact with Harry and Meghan. However, the claim has not been confirmed by the princess or her representatives, and there is no public evidence establishing that she has formally distanced herself from the couple.
Harry has reportedly understood the pressures facing his cousin and is not seeking to force her into making a choice between different branches of the family. That account, too, remains unverified.
Eugenie has long been regarded as one of Harry’s closer family connections, making any suggestion of a change in their relationship particularly noteworthy. Her continued links with the Sussexes after their departure from royal duties had previously set her apart from relatives who maintained a more distant public relationship with the couple.
At the same time, Eugenie has her own family relationships to consider, including her connections with King Charles and Prince William. Any suggestion that she must choose between the Sussexes and the wider Royal Family oversimplifies the situation, and no public statement indicates that she has been asked to do so.
For Meghan, As Ever remains a separate business venture, and its future does not depend on any confirmed involvement from Eugenie. The idea that the princess could lend the brand additional royal appeal remains speculation rather than an established plan.
Whether the cousins’ friendship has genuinely changed is also unclear. For now, claims of a business setback and growing distance between the two women rest on unconfirmed reports, while their longstanding connection remains part of the wider story surrounding the Sussexes and the Royal Family.
