Meghan Markle accused of using children Archie and Lilibet to promote her projects

Meghan Markle is facing backlash after showcasing her daughter, Princess Lilibet, in a social media video tied to the promotion of her lifestyle brand, As Ever.

The Duchess of Sussex, who has consistently emphasized her desire for privacy, is now being accused of contradicting that stance by incorporating her children into her latest business ventures.

The video, posted on Instagram ahead of the launch of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, features a rare glimpse of three-year-old Lilibet playing a personalized Candy Land board game alongside tennis star Serena Williams.

The footage, set to the tune of Lovely Day by Bill Withers, appears to celebrate a casual family moment, but some royal commentators are questioning whether it serves a different purpose.

Royal expert Hugo Vickers is among those raising concerns, calling Meghan's move "hypocritical." He argues that while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made a point of keeping their children out of the spotlight since stepping down as working royals, they now appear to be using them as part of a strategic marketing effort.

"We understand the importance of privacy for their children," Vickers said. "They've been adamant about shielding them from public attention. But then to suddenly include Lilibet in a promotional video-she doesn't even realize she's being used for this purpose. What will she think when she grows up?"

Adding to the controversy, Meghan's caption for the video directly references her Netflix show: "Three days until the party begins. All are invited @Netflix." For Vickers, this is no coincidence. "Bringing the child into the spotlight in this way is clearly a promotional strategy," he stated. "It's hard to ignore the financial motives behind it."

Prince Harry's role sparks further debate

The accusations don't stop at Meghan's children. Some royal analysts believe she is also using Prince Harry to generate interest in With Love, Meghan. The Duke of Sussex makes a brief appearance in the series trailer, prompting speculation that his involvement was carefully planned to attract viewers.

"If the goal was privacy, why is Harry being included in the promotional material?" Vickers questioned. "You can't advocate for privacy while simultaneously using your family to market a personal project."

This comes at a time when Meghan is attempting to reestablish her brand following a series of setbacks. Her initial lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, faced trademark challenges, forcing her to rebrand as As Ever.

Additionally, the logo for her new brand has been compared to the coat of arms of a town in Majorca, leading to potential legal complications.

A delicate balancing act

Despite the mounting criticism, Meghan remains committed to her new business endeavors. In a recent interview with People magazine, she acknowledged the difficulties of launching a brand but emphasized her ion for the project.

"I appreciate everyone who gave me the grace to make mistakes and figure it out," she said. "It's a learning curve."

However, with accusations of leveraging her family for publicity, Meghan now faces the challenge of proving that As Ever and With Love, Meghan are more than just carefully orchestrated marketing campaigns. Whether the public will embrace her latest ventures-or see them as another contradiction in the Sussexes' ongoing quest for privacy-remains to be seen.