Sources close to Meghan Markle have confirmed that no alcohol was served at an As Ever pop-up shop in California, following online speculation about the bottle display inside the store.
The Duchess of Sussex recently launched her lifestyle brand’s first physical retail presence at Godmothers bookshop in Montecito, located close to her home.
The space features a range of As Ever products, including fruit preserves, candles and herbal infusions.
Images shared on social media appeared to show a bottle in an ice bucket, prompting some users to question whether the venue required an alcohol licence.
Meghan Markle’s launch at California bookshop prompts clarification over bottle display
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Sources familiar with the shop’s setup have since confirmed to GB News that the bottle in the ice bucket was filled with water and the ice was decorative, explaining that such arrangements are commonly used for product presentation displays.
They also firmly stated that no alcohol is sold at Godmothers bookstore.
Online comments had pointed to California’s licensing rules, which require businesses to hold an Alcoholic Beverage License if they intend to sell or serve alcohol.
However, it has been confirmed that alcohol was not being offered for consumption at the site, with the bottle actually containing water.
Sources familiar with the shop’s setup have since confirmed to GB News that the bottle in the ice bucket was filled with water and the ice was decorative
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Godmothers, co-founded by literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and entrepreneur Victoria Jackson, is the first location to sell As Ever products in person.
The brand previously operated exclusively online.
GB News has contacted Godmothers and representatives for As Ever for further comment.
Ms Walsh and Ms Jackson are both personal friends of the Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan Markle shared an image of the As Ever launch at Godmothers
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INSTAGRAM: @MEGHAN
Meghan Markle has been a longtime supporter of Godmothers
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INSTAGRAM: @MEGHAN
Meghan promoted the collaboration through Instagram posts on Thursday, displaying the curated product arrangement within the bookshop’s interior.
The physical retail presence represents a significant expansion for the lifestyle brand’s distribution strategy.
Oprah Winfrey featured As Ever’s fruit preserve collection on her annual recommendations list on Thursday, prompting the brand to issue its first-ever promotional discount of 10 per cent.
This endorsement coincided with news of Meghan’s return to screen work, appearing as herself in the upcoming film Close Personal Friends.