Meghan Markle reveals most intimate glimpse but of Lilibet in cute household snap as she promotes As Ever life-style model

Meghan Markle has shared an adorable photo of herself with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet on Instagram as she promotes her lifestyle brand – after facing a critical backlash over her recent new Netflix series.

The photo, shared on the As Ever Instagram account in collaboration with Meghan’s own page, shows the trio in her garden as they pick fruit.

In the snap, which is the most intimate glimpse of Lilibet the Sussexes have shared of their three-year-old daughter for years, Meghan is carrying her youngest child in her arms.

Meanwhile five-year-old Archie is nuzzled into his mother’s waist as she puts her arm around him – while Meghan and her daughter were donning California-style straw hats as they stroll through the garden of their $14million Montecito mansion.

As the Sussexes bid to keep their children more private than when they were working royals, both Archie and Lili are photographed from behind – however some of Lili’s face is visible through her adorable red locks which hang down her face.

The Duchess captioned the photo: ‘Every day is a love story’ accompanied by a dove emoji.

As Meghan builds anticipation for the launch of As Ever following the release of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, she has leant into the California chic style she has championed with her brand.

The eight episodes of her cookery show were released on Netflix on March 4 – a series which the Duchess said had helped her to ‘find herself’ again, only for it to garner withering reviews from critics and viewers worldwide.

The eight episodes, each 33 minutes long, see Meghan inviting famous friends to a California estate while sharing cooking, gardening and hosting tips.

The 43-year-old former actress has also recently renamed her lifestyle brand As Ever, switching from the name American Riviera Orchard just weeks before the launch following trademarking setbacks – with Netflix now a partner in her business.

But the Duchess has meanwhile run into a potential conflict with another A-list lifestyle guru, Gwyneth Paltrow – with the Goop founder and Oscar winner seemingly taking aim at Meghan in an Instagram clip just yesterday.

Gwynnie, 52, posted a clip of herself making scones, bacon and eggs.

She went free of make-up while sporting casual striped pyjamas for her video, and used a soundtrack of This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) by Natalie Cole – which has also been used in promos for Markle’s own Netflix project.

Fans jumped to X to share their thoughts, with one penning: ‘Gwyneth Paltrow continues to throw shade & I’m here for it! No makeup in her actual kitchen!’ 

A fan also wrote, ‘Even the music… that’s Natalie Cole ‘this will be (an EVER lasting love)’!!!!!’, while another posted on social media: ‘Lol isn’t it this the song they keep using in the Meghan Markle promo?’

Another remarked: ‘And being as relatable as she can be, in her PJs, hair not styled, no make up sipping coffee. No one praising her. Just her phone filming. Simple and easy.’

And a further viewer added: ‘Go Gwyneth. And she has a real dog in her own real kitchen on her own real property.’

Meghan notably did not film the Netflix series at her own Montecito residence – but instead shot the episodes at an $8million farmhouse in the same area.

‘Freaking dying. She doesn’t even need to say a WORD. Authentic, better in every single way in her pj’s no makeup & SO elevated,’ one poster commented, while another shared: ‘In her PJs, top trolling.’

In the episodes of the star’s Netflix series, Meghan notably opted for classical makeup and stylish ensembles as she gave her own advice when it came to cooking, gardening and also hosting parties.

‘Pinstripe jammies? Check. Dog? Check. Eggs? Check. Monogrammed mug? Check. Lemons? Check? Her kitchen? Check. Jar of preserves? Check. High kick? Check,’ one typed.

However, despite some fans pitting themselves on Team Goop in the battle of the lifestyle brands, anticipation is building for the official launch of As Ever – particularly after With Love, Meghan was renewed for a second season on Netflix.

But Meghan has faced more criticism today, with a former editor of Vanity Fair magazine today describing her as a person ‘adrift on facts and reality’.

Canadian journalist and author Graydon Carter, 75, who ran the society bible for 25 years, revealed that the Duchess of Sussex made a baffling complaint when he made her the magazine’s cover star in October 2017.

Meghan, who had recently started dating Prince Harry and was still playing Rachel Zane on Suits, thought Vanity Fair should be more interested in her ‘charity work and philanthropy’.

‘This woman is slightly adrift on the facts and reality’, Mr Carter has said.

Meghan was the star of one of Mr Carter’s final editions as editor of Vanity Fair, in October 2017, which was entitled: ‘She’s just wild about Harry’.

He has admitted that he initially had ‘no idea’ who Meghan was when one of his team suggested her for the cover, asking them initially: ‘Why should we do a story on her?’. His colleague swiftly replied: ‘Because she’s going to marry Prince Harry’.

But when a Vanity Fair reporter interviewed Meghan she apparently snapped: ‘Excuse me, is this going to all be about Prince Harry? Because I thought we were going to be talking about my charities and my philanthropy’.

Weeks after the interview was published, in November 2017, Meghan’s engagement to Prince Harry was announced in a statement released by his father. By early 2020 the couple had stepped down as working royals and emigrated to California.

Mr Carter, who was friendly with Princess Diana, has claimed that Harry’s mother ‘would feel great sorrow’ that her youngest son is estranged from Prince William and King Charles.

‘Anytime someone comes between siblings that’s a disaster – horrible for a family’, he said.

As Meghan uses her Instagram account to connect with fans for the first time since leaving the UK and stepping down as a working royal, she has gradually offered more glimpses of Archie and Lilibet to fans.

Just a few months ago, a picture of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s adorable children was deemed a rarity.

When the California-based couple dropped their Christmas card in December, royal fans were delighted at their first glimpse of a Sussex family photo in three years.

But since, the pair have been sharing more and more insights into their home life – as the Duchess, 43, relaunched her Instagram account on New Year’s Eve day, and has since announced a new Netflix series, as well as a lifestyle brand.

The reveals have been firmly marked by an increased social media presence from Meghan, who has made seven posts in the last two months.

And alongside promotional clips for her upcoming show, ‘With Love, Meghan’ and As Ever – the revamp of the American Riviera Orchard project which last year saw her sending out jams to celebs – are more earnest and intimate snaps.

Many offer followers a glance at their life in Montecito, including never before seen snaps of Archie, five, and Lilibet, three – and ome posts even include footage where you can hear their voices, in sweet home videos.

During the festive season, many wellwishers were touched at the couple’s seasonal card, which saw Archie and Lilibet running into the open arms of their parents.

The pair’s red-haired five-year-old son, sixth in line to the British throne, could easily be mistaken for his father at the same age.

Lilibet, who had at that point last been seen in a portrait taken in the garden of Frogmore Cottage to mark her first birthday in June 2022, was almost as tall as her brother.

Her British-style summer dress and auburn hair has seen her compared to older cousin Princess Charlotte.

The candid photo of a proud mother and father hugging their children delighted millions of excited royal fans who have waited so patiently for a new picture of the Sussexes all together.

Meanwhile, Meghan’s husband Prince Harry found out last week that the US federal government does not believe he received any special treatment when he applied for a visa in the country.

In heavily-redacted documents, a lawyer from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said his application followed all the ‘applicable rules and regulations’.

The ruling came after a lawsuit was brought by the right-wing Heritage Foundation against the federal agency to prove Harry lied in his application – which led to speculation that President Donald Trump may deport the Prince.

The case was brought after concerns were raised Harry had been given a pass despite having spoken publicly about using cannabis, cocaine and magic mushrooms in his memoir – behaviour that would usually see someone barred entry.