<p id=”par-1_48″>First <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/royal-drama-unleashed-did-buckingham-palace-throw-shade-meghan-markle-new-business-instagram.html/”>Buckingham Palace threw shade</a>. Now it’s <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/prince-william/”>Prince William</a>’s turn. The Prince of Wales, 42, reportedly took a photo “trolling” his estranged sister-in-law, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/meghan-markle/”>Meghan Markle</a>, when he received a jar of jam in November 2024. About the photo and why a former courtier says it was no “accident.” </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-william-posed-for-an-official-photo-holding-a-jar-of-jam-in-south-africa”>William posed for an official photo holding a jar of jam in South Africa</h2>
<p id=”par-2_58″>During his <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/kate-middleton-wont-join-prince-william-south-africa-earthshot-prize-awards-report.html/”>trip to Cape Town</a>, South Africa, for the 2024 Earthshot Prize Awards, William received a pot of sour fig jam. Official photos, one of which is seen below, showed him receiving the jam from a local fisherwoman Sarah Niemond who, per the <a href=”https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14053605/Prince-William-gifted-jar-jam-final-day-South-African-tour-flanked-Winnie-Harlow-Heidi-Klum.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Daily Mail</a>, told him her jam made its way to Buckingham Palace years earlier. </p>
<p id=”par-3_37″>“Seven years ago someone from your country bought this South African jam and they bought it and took it back to England and they gave it to your grandmother,” Niemond said about the late Queen Elizabeth II. </p>
<p id=”par-4_57″>William’s jam photo came seven months after Meghan announced her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, in March 2024. She subsequently offered a sneak peek at her homemade strawberry jam by sending it to celebrity friends, who posted about it on social media. Since then, however, Meghan’s new business venture has <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/meghan-markle-committed-american-riviera-orchard-despite-major-setback.html/”>experienced various setbacks</a> related to trademarking.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-a-former-courtier-says-william-s-jam-photo-wasn-t-an-accident-nbsp”>A former courtier says William’s jam photo wasn’t an ‘accident’ </h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image aligncenter size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Prince-William-receives-a-jar-of-jam-in-a-photo-trolling-Meghan-Markle.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Prince William receives a jar of jam in a photo ‘trolling’ Meghan Markle” class=”wp-image-3743356″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Prince William | Aaron Chown – Pool/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-5_47″>It seems William was “trolling” his estranged sister-in-law, Meghan, when he posed for an official photo holding a jar of jam on his November 2024 visit to South Africa. A former palace staffer who worked with William told <a href=”https://www.thedailybeast.com/prince-william-deliberately-trolling-meghan-with-sour-jam-stunt/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The Daily Beast</a> it was likely a deliberate move. </p>
<p id=”par-6_49″>“Nothing happens by accident when it comes to royal photos,” they said, noting that “it looks very much like he is trolling her.” It wasn’t a coincidence either. The insider added that items presented to royals typically go through a screening process and are pre-approved once they’re deemed controversy-free. </p>
<p id=”par-7_51″>While Kensington Palace declined to comment, a palace source told the outlet not to make much of William’s “trolling” jam photo. “HRH [His Royal Highness] was handed a jar of jam by a fisherwoman who he met at Kalk Bay. I wouldn’t read any more into it than that,” they said. </p>
<p id=”par-8_29″>Meghan reportedly plans to launch American Riviera Orchard products when her <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/in-her-element-meghan-markle-really-enjoyed-filming-upcoming-netflix-show.html/”>upcoming Netflix cooking show</a> premieres. At the time of writing, no premiere date or title has been unveiled.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-william-and-meghan-s-relationship-timeline”>William and Meghan’s relationship timeline</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image aligncenter size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Prince-William-who-took-a-photo-holding-a-jar-of-jam-trolling-Meghan-Markle-with-Kate-Middleton-Prince-Harry-and-his-sister-in-law.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Prince William who took a photo holding a jar of jam ‘trolling’ Meghan Markle, with Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, and his sister-in-law” class=”wp-image-3743366″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Kate Middleton | Leon Neal/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-9_61″>Things were off to a good start when Harry introduced Meghan to William in 2016. The former <em>Suits</em> star, as Harry recalled in <em>Spare</em>, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/meghan-markle-completely-freaked-prince-william-out-met.html/”>“freaked” William out</a> by hugging him when they met. Later, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/prince-harry-noticed-marked-difference-meghan-markle-kate-middleton-met.html/”>over dinner at Nottingham Cottage</a>, Meghan “charmed” the future king. How? By giving William some of her “homeopathic cure-alls, oregano oil and turmeric, to help with a cold. </p>
<p id=”par-10_32″>When Harry prepared to propose to Meghan in the fall of 2017, he recalled how his brother “seemed to <em>like</em> Meg, despite for his oft-cited concerns.” Namely, her being <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/meghan-markle-says-actor-biggest-problem-met-royal-family.html/”>an “American actress.”</a> </p>
<p id=”par-11_53″>By June 2018, William, Harry, Kate, and Meghan had a “clear the air” talk that quickly devolved into a heated argument. “It’s rude, Meghan. It’s not what’s done here in Britain,” William told Meghan about her previous remark about Kate’s “hormones.” At that Meghan said, “Kindly take your finger out of my face.”</p>
<p id=”par-12_48″>“Was this really happening? Had it actually come to this? Shouting at each other about place cards and hormones?” Harry thought to himself. Fast-forward to present day and Harry and Meghan’s relationship with William—and Kate—remains strained. The couples rarely see each other and aren’t reportedly on speaking terms. </p>