Meghan denies being an influencer in an interview promoting her cooking show and brand, where she shares that Archie advises her not to overwork.

Meghan Markle has today insisted she is not an influencer as part of an interview to promote her ‘make or break’ cookery show on Netflix.  

Speaking out ahead of the release of ‘With Love, Meghan’, the 43-year-old royal said the eight-part series had helped her to ‘find herself’ again.

Even though she had a substantial following of two million people on social media, she saw herself more as a ‘female founder’ and ‘entrepreneur’, rather than just an influencer.

Her Netflix cookery show will launch tomorrow morning and be accompanied by a new merchandise range ‘As Ever’.

Speaking to People magazine, the Duchess of Sussex insisted she didn’t see herself as a social media star.

‘I see myself as an entrepreneur and a female founder and if the brand ends up influential, then that’s great,’ she told the outlet. 

Meghan recently shared insights into her family life in California, mentioning how her five-year-old son, Archie, sweetly reminds her not to work too hard.

‘It was the sweetest thing,’ the duchess adds as she recounts the advice from the young prince. 

During her interview, Meghan also described how the Sussex title is now ‘part of our love story’ between herself and Prince Harry.  

And she said filming her new show had helped her to rediscover her creativity – and that it had reignited ‘a spark’ in Harry’s eye. 

Before she met the prince, the former Suits actress had been running The Tig, a blog on food, travel and wellness. 

As Meghan’s bond with Harry grew stronger, she made the decision to close down her website in 2017. Subsequently, upon becoming a full-time member of the royal family, she also removed her Instagram account.

She claimed that Harry – who only makes a fleeting appearance in the final episode of ‘With Love, Meghan’ – loved seeing her step back into her creative groove. 

‘I see this spark in his eye when he sees me doing the thing that I was doing when he first met me,’ she tells People. 

She paints a portrait of domestic bliss with Harry, Archie and Lilibet, three, at their £11million Montecito home where their slow cook berries from her garden. 

The duchess also revealed how she and her children had joined the community of Montecito, and how the recently invited neighbouring families over for a social do. 

‘We hosted a little camp because winter break was long,’ she told People, as she  described how she and Harry set up obstacle courses and face painting stands.

‘We had several days with different families at our home, and we were able to get to know the parents better, and all the kids could play… It’s a dream.’

However, Meghan insists she is no ‘tradwife’ – shorthand for ‘traditional wife’ – and that she enjoys letting her hair down with a Chinese takeaway. 

The royal’s new show is set to debut at 8am on Tuesday. 

The eight-part series has been filmed inside an $8million (£5million) mansion on a sprawling estate just two miles from the Sussexes’ Montecito home. 

It’s aimed at showing a new side to the Duchess  – with royal sources saying it could be the last roll of the dice to salvage her and Harry’s lucrative $100million streaming deal.

Since Harry and Meghan signed the mega deal in 2020, there has been one smash hit and three relative duds, sparking speculation Netflix might soon cut ties.

The biographical ‘Harry & Meghan’ was the streaming service’s biggest documentary debut, viewed in almost 29 million households in its first four days, and proved a global sensation.

But Polo, a sports docuseries, Live to Lead – which focused on ‘global justice activists’ – and Heart of Invictus, about Harry’s games for wounded soldiers, proved lacklustre additions that failed to set the streaming service’s viewing figures ablaze.

‘With Love, Meghan’ will see the duchess trying to promote herself in a new way, following her dramatic tell-all to Oprah Winfrey in 2021, as a ‘domestic goddess’ baking cakes, arranging flowers and slipping into a beekeeper’s suit to collect honey.

In trailers, Meghan is seen cooking, baking, cocktail making, flower arranging and party planning using its kitchen’s £15,000 cooker, £600 pans, £60 chopping boards and hosting friends across the property’s stunning rooms, garden and orchards. 

However, in Los Angeles, sources have said the Sussexes’ relationship with Netflix is on borrowed time, amid claims they have proven hard to work with.

‘The word bandied around internally is “nightmare”,’ one insider told the Sunday Times, while another previously told MailOnline: ‘This is make or break for Meghan.’

It emerged last week through trademark filings that the Duchess plans to sell biscuit and pancake mixes under her newly rebranded lifestyle company ‘As Ever’.

Meghan had announced on February 18 the renaming of her venture from previous title American Riviera Orchard, which she said had limited her to locally-produced goods.

It was then revealed how a new application was made to the US Patent and Trademark Office on the same day, indicating a series of products she is looking to sell under the ‘As Ever’ brand.

On the list were goods set to compete with major brands such as Betty Crocker and Dr Oetker, including ‘mixes for bakery goods; cookie mixes; biscuit mixes; crepe mixes’.

These come under international trademark class 30, a category for food products.

The application was made by ‘2022 Trademarks LLC’, a firm established by Meghan’s representatives.

The Duchess had unveiled her lifestyle brand as American Riviera Orchard last year, sending out 50 jars of jam to her friends as a soft launch.

The ‘American Riviera’ is a nickname for Santa Barbara, where Meghan lives with husband Prince Harry and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

But US officials told Meghan geographical locations could not be patented and she therefore could not trademark the brand – prompting the switch to ‘As Ever’.

Meghan confirmed the change of name in a video posted to her Instagram on February 18, shared with her 2.2million followers on the social media platform.

She also told how Netflix was not only the streaming platform for her forthcoming series due to go live on Tuesday, but also a partner in her business.

Meghan joked about the first product released by her firm last year, a limited edition jar of strawberry jam, telling viewers: ‘Of course there will be fruit preserves – I think we’re all clear at this point that jam is my jam.

‘But there’s so many more products that I just love that I use in my home and now it’s time to share it with you, so I can’t wait for you to see it.’

Harry could be heard in the background at the start of the video, saying: ‘It’s recording.’

The Duchess then previewed tomorrow’s Netflix broadcasts, saying: ‘In two weeks, my show is coming out, which I’m so excited for, and also my business, which I think there’s been a lot of curiosity about.

‘Last year, I had thought, “You know what, American Riviera, that sounds like such a great name, it’s my neighbourhood, it’s a nickname for Santa Barbara” – but it limited me to things that were just manufactured and grown in this area.

‘Then Netflix came on, not just as my partner in the show, but as my partner in my business, which was huge.’

A trademark application for As Ever was first made in October 2022 before being dropped in favour of American Riviera Orchard, it was reported.

But when the American Riviera Orchard application was rejected, the As Ever application was submitted again last September – covering products such as downloadable and printed recipe books, tableware, textiles, and jams and marmalades.

Meghan told her Instagram fans: ‘As Ever essentially means as it’s always been, and if you’ve followed me since 2014 with The Tig, you know, I’ve always loved cooking and crafting and gardening.

‘This is what I do, and I haven’t been able to share it with you in the same way for the past few years but now I can.’

The Tig had been her lifestyle website used as a platform to discuss social issues such as gender equality as well as sharing articles on travel, food and fashion, but which she had closed down before marrying into the Royal family in May 2018.

The change of name looked like it could draw Meghan into a legal wrangle involving the owner of an independent New York retailer also called As Ever.

Mark Kolski, the designer and owner of vintage clothing studio As Ever NYC, told of being left ‘reeling’ by the news Meghan would relaunch her company under the same name as his own clothing label.

But after exploring his options, the 58-year-old last week announced he was no longer planning any legal response.

He told the New York News: ‘I’m not trying to mount some legal offensive here.

‘Right now, I’m just going back to work, and I’m trying to keep the awareness on my brand. If any conflict eventually arises that affects my business, I’ll evaluate that then.’

Mr Kolski said he had spoken with his brother, an attorney, who informed him he did have ‘some rights’ – before ultimately deciding against pursuing any action.

Meghan’s cooking and entertaining show is finally being launched on Netflix on Tuesday, after its January release was postponed due to the Los Angeles wildfires.