Natasha Archer, the former long-time personal assistant to Catherine, Princess of Wales, has launched her own style consultancy, adopting a marketing aesthetic and messaging that observers have likened to that of Meghan Markle's lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.
Archer, 38, who concluded her 15-year tenure with the Royal Family last summer, unveiled her eponymous company in March. The firm offers "discreet, bespoke advisory services...across wardrobe, personal presentation, creative direction, and the finer details." Her launch includes a photoshoot where she is depicted in a sun-drenched kitchen, wearing a white shirt and blue jeans, a look that has drawn comparisons to an earlier promotional video for Markle's brand. In that video, Markle, 44, also wore a similar outfit while promoting her fruit spreads.
Both Archer and Markle appear to employ a marketing playbook centered on "moments that matter the most," with Archer stating her work involves "bringing clarity, confidence, and ease" to clients. This sentiment mirrors Markle's own stated aim to "elevate the everyday into the exceptional" through her products. Social media feeds for both Archer's new venture and Markle's brand feature stripped-back, monochrome aesthetics and "candid" photography, with a notable use of beige tones.
Further parallels have been drawn between the branding of their respective ventures. The logo for Archer's company, a stylized monogram of her initials 'NA', shares a similar aesthetic with the palm tree emblem used for Markle's American Riviera Orchard. It is understood that Archer had previously followed Markle's private Instagram account and American Riviera Orchard, along with Markle's make-up artist Daniel Martin and close friends, before unfollowing most of Markle's inner circle.
Archer's long service to the Royal Family began in 2010, initially as a personal assistant to Prince William and Prince Harry. Following William's marriage to Catherine, she became a key aide to the then-Duchess of Cambridge, eventually becoming her most trusted assistant. Her role evolved to include Senior Private Executive Assistant, and she was reportedly instrumental in assisting Catherine following her abdominal surgery earlier this year and during her subsequent cancer treatment.
Archer's influence on Catherine's public image has been noted over the years. She was credited with assisting in the curation of Catherine's wardrobe for significant events, including the 2013 birth of Prince George, the 2014 tour of Australia and New Zealand, the 2016 tour of Canada, and the 2019 royal tour of Pakistan. During the Pakistan tour, Archer reportedly introduced Catherine to Pakistani designer Maheen Khan.
Archer, a mother of two, married royal photographer Chris Jackson in 2017; they divorced in September last year. She was recognized for her service to the Royal Family in 2018 with an invitation to become a member of the Royal Victorian Order. It is understood that the Prince and Princess of Wales have extended their best wishes to Archer for her new professional chapter.