Meghan Markle slammed for product launch on same day as Princess Kate's triumphant return

Much of the world rejoiced this weekend when the Princess of Wales, often referred to as Kate Middleton, made a long-awaited return to the public sphere following her cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

However, not to be outdone on the world stage, Prince Harry's controversial wife Meghan Markle attempted to grab some of the limelight by debuting two new products for her fledgling lifestyle brand, according to Page Six, in a move for which she has received a deluge of criticism.

Jam, biscuits make weekend debut

While royal watchers across the globe sat enthralled by Kate's regal appearance at the annual Trooping the Colour birthday parade in honor of the monarch, Markle and one of her friends took to the Internet to flog what appeared to be new merchandise under the banner of her “American Riviera Orchard” enterprise.

Polo playing socialite Nacho Figueras, known as a confidante of Markle and her husband, posted an Instagram story displaying a jar of raspberry jam bearing Markle's label as well as a container of dog biscuits in a jar displaying the Duchess of Sussex's distinctive handwriting.

The move comes weeks after Markle debuted a line of strawberry jam via a series of Instagram posts from friends who had apparently received complimentary samples of the product -- which is not currently for sale to consumers.

The curious timing of Markle and Figueras' launch did not go unnoticed, as it came on the same morning that the Princess of Wales made her first public appearance months after revealing to the world that she had been facing cancer as well as a course of chemotherapy.

Brand's viability questioned

As Page Six reported separately earlier this year, the status of American Riviera Orchard -- which was rolled out to much online fanfare -- remains very much in question, particularly given that it has not yet offered any products the public can actually purchase.

The outlet mused, “But there still remain vital questions surrounding the brand: Just who is investing in it, who is working on it -- and who is manufacturing the goods, which will range from jams and jellies to candles, skincare and pet food?”

One insider expressed the belief that the entire initiative was “looking like a typical Markle project: plenty of glamour, little substance.”

Markle slammed by critics

Regardless of the brand's future prospects, many of Markle's detractors are convinced that Saturday's introduction of two new products was deliberately timed to interfere with Kate's re-emergence, given the rumored animosity between the two, as OK! Magazine reports.

One Twitter user opined, “Try to steal the spotlight from the [Royal Family.] Yet it is still shocking and disgusting.”

Another observed that Markle's conduct was “Narcissism at its finest,” and that is a sentiment with which the many millions who admire the Princess of Wales will surely agree.