The Duchess of Sussex revealed how her family harvests sage from their Montecito garden while promoting her lifestyle brand’s new $32 honey product
Meghan Markle shared details about her family’s Thanksgiving preparations through the latest newsletter for her lifestyle brand As Ever. The Duchess of Sussex explained how she, Prince Harry, and their children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, harvest sage from their $30 million Montecito, California property to season their homemade holiday feast. Sage ranks among her favorite flavors, and she has documented herself among flowering sage plants on Instagram throughout the past year.
The newsletter revealed that purple flowering plants visible in social media posts were actually Santa Barbara sage rather than lavender as many followers assumed. The entire family participates in the backyard harvest, with the newsletter describing strolls through the garden with both children and their two pet dogs. These sun drenched moments featured Archie and Lilibet running around while Harry checked on bees and the dogs chased balls, with sage plants providing a constant aromatic backdrop.
New honey product ties to family activities
The sweet anecdote about family life served primarily to promote As Ever’s new Sage Honey with Honeycomb, which retails for $32 for a nine ounce jar on the official website. Markle created the product after adding homegrown sage to honey collected from her backyard bees. The combination quickly became a treat loved by her family and friends who received it as gifts. Now she wants fans to experience the aromatic and earthy drizzle for themselves.
The newsletter suggested using the sage honey on Thanksgiving turkey or vegetables, in vinaigrettes, or stirred into tea. For customers who purchase the specialty honey, Markle provided additional tips on creating an As Ever Sage Honey Glaze by combining it with Dijon mustard, lemon juice, various spices and cooking stock. The official As Ever Instagram account shared footage of her wearing a burgundy holiday gown while glazing turkey at the family dinner table, along with shots of elegant table settings featuring cloth napkins tied with green velvet ribbons.
Holiday celebrations grow more meaningful
Markle told Marie Claire last November that Thanksgivings at the Montecito home remain pretty low key, with the family always making sure to include friends without relatives nearby. However, she emphasized that Archie and Lilibet are her biggest priority and that holidays have become more enjoyable as the children grow older and begin understanding the celebrations. She expressed excitement about experiencing the season through their lens each year as they develop greater awareness of traditions.
The holidays carry extreme importance for Markle, who has been actively promoting As Ever’s Holiday Collection as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach. Beyond the sage honey, the collection includes a $64 candle, champagne and a mulled spice kit. A recent Instagram post caption invited followers to imagine a seat at her table, reflecting the welcoming atmosphere she aims to create.
Brand faces criticism over muted aesthetic
Markle’s latest newsletter arrived just days after she faced accusations of releasing a beige and depressing holiday promotion for As Ever, despite previously claiming she had to tone down her bright personal style to fit in with the Royal Family. She shared a brief Instagram clip Saturday showing herself assembling gifts and placing a present into a gray stocking hanging from her mantlepiece. The video featured neutral earthy tones throughout the room, matching understated light green hues of fir decorations, though fairy lights provided some sparkle.
Some fans expressed disappointment with the glossy promotion, claiming it lacked festivity and featured only bland boring browns rather than typical bright holiday fanfare. Social media users questioned where the Christmas colors and holiday cheer had gone, describing the aesthetic as depressing manila envelope drabness. Others pointed out the irony that Markle complained during her Netflix series about having to wear muted tones while in the Royal Family to avoid clashing with senior members, yet now appeared to be embracing that same beige and camel color palette.
Acting comeback adds to busy schedule
Alongside promoting her festive product line, Markle is currently filming Close Personal Friends for Amazon MGM Studios, marking her return to acting for the first time since 2017. The movie stars Emily in Paris actress Lily Collins, Captain Marvel’s Brie Larson, and Jack Quaid. Netflix bosses reportedly noted her decision to work with Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, with sources suggesting much chatter across Hollywood about her screen return. Her Netflix deal with Harry ended in September and is widely considered disappointing in industry circles.