When the Duchess of Sussex revealed she was making a Netflix cooking show, the actress-turned-royal promised viewers an intimate ‘at home with Meghan’ experience with ‘wonder in every moment’.
But MailOnline can reveal she has chosen to film the eight-episode series ‘With Love, Meghan’ in a kitchen and home that isn’t her own – despite living around the corner.
The 43-year-old duchess chose a sprawling estate just two miles from the £11million Montecito property she shares with Prince Harry and their children, Archie and Lilibet.
The mansion where her Netflix show was filmed last year, an idyllic $8million (£5million) estate nestled within a gated community, boasts eight acres of avocado trees and lemon groves and is owned by Montecito’s influential Cipolla family.
Tom and Sherrie Cipolla, fixtures in the high society circles of the American Riviera, are both in their 70s. They are prominent philanthropists with a $20million property portfolio, which includes a physical therapy practice with over $1.3million in annual sales.
Their 4,500 sq ft home, with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, has stunning French doors that open to a patio, lawn, and breath-taking mountain views.
And based on a trailer posted on her new Instagram account last night, it is the stage for Meghan to showcase her cooking and homemaking skills including a number of British-inspired recipes such as a classic Eton mess and a Victoria sponge.
In it she gives fans a sneak peek of her 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.
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MailOnline can reveal Meghan is not using her own Montecito mansion, but instead using the kitchen of philanthropists Tom and Sherrie Cipolla
Meghan Markle introduces her new Netflix series ‘With Love, Meghan’
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Production trucks and tents lined the driveway of a $8million property set in eight acres of avocado and lemon groves in a gated community in Montecito for filming of ‘interior and exterior dialogue scenes’
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The homeowners have hosted fundraisers at the same home where Meghan played house
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The property, an idyllic $8million estate nestled within a gated community, boasts eight acres of avocado trees and lemon groves, but it belongs not to Meghan, but to Montecito’s well-heeled Cipolla family
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Pictured: the barn-room. Meghan will cook, entertain, and ‘share the joys of gardening, friendship, and entertaining’ in the luxurious home of the Cipolla family
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Alongside her were famous friends including actress and producer Mindy Kaling – an early recipient of American Riviera Orchard Jam – while The Lovin’ Spoonful’s Do You Believe in Magic plays over the top of the teaser trailer yesterday.
She is also shown high fiving other guests in candid moments that include accidentally squeezing lemon in her eye and missing a plate when serving some sweet treats.
Meghan has vowed ‘share the joys of gardening, friendship, and entertaining’ with guests in the luxurious home of the Cipolla family.
The property features the centerpiece of the estate: a spacious kitchen with Caesartone countertops, estimated to cost about £200 to £550 per square metre and a 48-inch Thermador range cooker, which comes with a hefty price tag of around £15,000.
Behind her, cream-coloured Shaker-style cabinetry and a farmhouse-style sink is punctuated with contrasting black hardware.
Alongside other kitchen staples such as copper pans, for around £200 to £600 and her favourite Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender, which is loved by countless other stars such as Miranda Kerr, Gwyneth Paltrow and Zac Efron but will set you back £450.
Donning the back of the stove you see a selection of black walnut chopping boards, which provide an easy aesthetic vibe to the kitchen but each one should cost about £60.
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The property features the centerpiece of the estate: a spacious kitchen with Caesartone countertops, where Meghan sliced her victoria sponge – a British classic
They sat on a gorgeous blue floral patterned plate, which is believed to be the Blue Peony Plate from Earth and Element, a female owned ceramics studio located in Los Angeles
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Donning the back of the stove you see a selection of black walnut chopping boards
In another shot, a beautiful salad bowl sits on top of the stunning island bench
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A 48-inch Thermador range cooker, which comes with a hefty price tag of around £15,000 can be seen in the background of many shots
Meghan also served guests a dessert that appears to resemble Eton Mess, containing strawberries, cream, mint and a berry coulis
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The Cipollas, both in their 70s, are prominent philanthropists with a $20million property portfolio, which includes a physical therapy practice with over $1.3million in annual sales
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The front porch. Meghan also served guests a dessert that appears to resemble Eton Mess, containing strawberries, cream, mint and a berry coulis
Are you interested in Meghan’s cooking show?
In perfect influencer style she also uses an array of state-of-art Le Creuset cookware, all in matching white. A single pot online retails for about £180-£250.
In one shot, the mother-of-two served a caprese appetizer – adorably made to look like ladybirds.
Sitting on small pieces of bread, the bodies were made of baby tomatoes with small black dots with olive heads and sat on a bed of mozzarella and salad.
They sat on a blue floral patterned plate, which is believed to be the Blue Peony Plate from Earth and Element, a female owned ceramics studio located in Los Angeles. The plate prices start from £32 ($40) for each bread plate and £57 ($70) for a dinner plate.
In another shot, a beautiful salad bowl sits on top of the stunning island bench.
The bowl resembles one found to be from Astier de Villatte – a line of ceramic made in Paris from black terracotta clay finished with a signature milky white glaze.
The websites notes that each piece is handmade and will feature unique variations, with the large Adelaide Salad Bowl retailing for £280 ($345).
Meghan also served guests a dessert that appears to resemble Eton Mess, containing strawberries, cream, mint and a berry coulis.
She serves the pink sweet in a old fashioned ice-cream dish, with similar versions found on Crate and Barrel for an affordable £3 ($3.95) per cup.
Meghan’s cooking show is not only part of her personal reinvention but also a key component in her $100million Netflix deal with Prince Harry.
However, the reality has proven far more challenging than the fairytale narrative Meghan may have envisioned.
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Meghan Markle has filmed a new Netflix cooking show to share the ‘joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining and friendship’
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The family room. She serves the pink sweet in a old fashioned ice-cream dish, with similar versions found on Crate and Barrel for an affordable £3 ($3.95) per cup
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A small breakfast nook. Meghan’s cooking show is not only part of her personal reinvention but also a key component in her $100million Netflix deal with Prince Harry
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The dining room. In one shot, the mother-of-two served a caprese appetizer – adorably made to look like ladybugs
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A film permit application exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com shows filming in two separate locations
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The master bathroom. A series of high-profile missteps and cancellations have cast a shadow over her post-royal ventures, leaving many to question whether her brand can recover
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An office. This comes as the Duchess launched her personal Instagram account yesterday
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Nestled in five acres of avocado and lemon groves, the sprawling ‘Tiburon Bay’ in Montecito, CA – just two miles from Prince Harry and Meghan’s own ultra-lavish abode
A series of high-profile missteps and cancellations have cast a shadow over her post-royal ventures, leaving many to question whether her brand can recover.
From the axing of her Netflix series ‘Pearl’ to the discontinuation of her Spotify podcast ‘Archetypes’ and the still-unrealised promise of her lifestyle brand, Meghan’s attempts to reshape her public persona have met with limited success.
This comes as the Duchess launched her personal Instagram account yesterday with a video – filmed by husband Harry – of herself laughing on a beach near their home in Montecito.
Meghan’s foray into the lifestyle sector with American Riviera Orchard has encountered several obstacles.
Launched with the ambition to rival established brands like Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, the brand focuses on home, garden, food, and general lifestyle products. However, it has faced trademark issues, staffing challenges, and delays in product launches.
In March 2024, Meghan filed for a trademark for American Riviera Orchard, followed by a soft launch on social media.
However, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejected the trademark request due to inconsistencies in the application.
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The barn room. From the axing of her Netflix series ‘Pearl’ to the discontinuation of her Spotify podcast ‘Archetypes’ and the still-unrealised promise of her lifestyle brand, Meghan’s attempts to reshape her public persona have met with limited success
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The master bedroom. Meghan’s foray into the lifestyle sector with American Riviera Orchard has encountered several obstacles
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Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in 2018, before they abandoned Britain and the Royal Family to move to California
Meghan Markle launches long-awaited luxury lifestyle brand
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Chrissy Teigen makes sandwiches using Meghan Markle’s jam
Further complications arose when the food company Harry & David filed a protest, claiming that American Riviera Orchard is too similar to their own Royal Riviera trademark.
Additionally, reports have surfaced about difficulties in staffing. In August 2024, it was reported that 18 staff members had exited the business, and by November, a CEO had allegedly not been found to lead the brand.
Despite these setbacks, Meghan appears determined to continue her entrepreneurial journey. She has returned to social media, launching a new Instagram account on New Year’s Day with a beach video reportedly filmed by Prince Harry.
This move is seen as the beginning of a potential comeback year, with plans to premiere a new show on a streaming service and launch the American Riviera Orchard brand in early 2025
