Meghan Markle unveils new matcha collaboration with 'my favourite gal' whose wellness drinks brand was the Duchess' first investment after quitting royal duties

Meghan Markle has unveiled a new matcha collaboration with 'my favourite gal' Hannah Mendoza, who co-founded the wellness drinks brand the Duchess invested in after quitting the Royal Family. 

The Duchess of Sussex, 44, has been an investor in California-based Clevr Blends since December 2020 and even appeared as a background extra in an Instagram advert for the company in 2023. 

Now taking their partnership one step further,  Meghan yesterday revealed that her lifestyle company As Ever has created 'The Strawberry Matcha Set' in collaboration with Clevr Blends. 

Meghan explained that she has 'proudly supported' the co-founder and CEO of Clevr Blends 'for years' while sharing a picture of the pair on her Instagram Stories.

'I've proudly supported Hannah and Clevr Blends for so many years now,' Meghan captioned the snap. 

'Thrilled about this collaboration with one of my favourite gals and two of my favourite brands.' 

Clevr is a wellness brand that specialises in oat-milk 'Super Lattes' enriched with adaptogens, probiotics, and reishi mushrooms. 

Reposting Meghan's story, Hannah wrote how 'nothing compares to having badass women in your life that lift you up' and that the 'collab' with As Ever is now live. 

A spokesperson for Meghan confirmed in December 2020 that she had invested an undisclosed sum in Clevr Brands, which has a range of lattes that come in powder form.

Around the time, the former senior royal used her connections to promote the company, which was founded in January 2019 and is run by University of California, Santa Barbara graduate Hannah, by sending a basket of products to her neighbour Oprah Winfrey. 

Three years later, the former Suits actress made a cameo as an intern for Clevr Blends in a social media ad for the company. 

 The Duchess could be seen stacking boxes, making hot drinks and working on a computer in the commercial, while Hannah Mendoza walks around the company's HQ and thanks the team for all their hard work in 2023.

At one point, Meghan comically fails to fist bump another member of the team in the final shot as she walks off camera, leading to everyone bursting out laughing before the video ends. 

Clevr Blends posted the video on Instagram with the caption: 'Damn, you’re keeping us BUSY right now! Had to call in some reinforcements.

'So grateful for the immense love and support this year- thanks for helping us keep the latte-loving dream alive, and thriving!xo'

According to Meghan's As Ever website, the two brands teamed up to create a 'seasonal' set because they have a 'shared love of joyful morning rituals'. 

For $56, customers will receive Clevr's blend of ceremonial-grade matcha and functional ingredients, Meghan's Strawberry Spread, and flower sprinkles to 'add beauty to each bite'. 

Earlier this month, Prince Harry's wife donned clothes and accessories worth £98,000 while promoting the trio of wines from her lifestyle brand in a slick, new advertisement for As Ever. 

After unveiling the company's first influencer-led promo, the Duchess of Sussex, 44, was back in front of the camera as she poured glasses of 'refreshing' sauvignon blanc and 'celebratory' Brut in a short clip that was captioned: 'For gathering all summer long.'

For the eight-second promo, Meghan wore a butter-yellow blazer from French luxury label Celine that retails for nearly £2,600 ($3,450) over a £295 ($395) cream cashmere tank top from Co.

She finished the look with some cropped white trousers, a brown belt, and matching £260 shoes from Veronica Beard that share the same name as her sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales, with the pair dubbed the 'Catherine' mules.

Meghan accessorised with some of her favourite pieces of jewellery, including her mother-in-law, Princess Diana's priceless gold Cartier Tank Francaise watch and Cartier Love bracelet worth £5,800.

She also donned the brand's Juste un Clou necklace worth £15,500 and what looks to be her £17,700 Cartier tennis bracelet, which the Duchess first debuted days after her wedding to Prince Harry, as well as her £56,000 pinky ring from Lorraine Schwartz.

Named the 'Essential Lines Bracelet', the stunning designer piece is made of white gold and diamonds, and is only available to order by phone or in-store.

Meghan announced As Ever's foray into wines last July when she launched the 2023 Napa Valley Rose, priced at $35.

The launch of As Ever's limited-time collaboration with Clevr Blends comes days after Meghan gushed over her best friend Kelly McKee Zajfen's newborn baby on Instagram.

Posting on social media ahead of the King's official birthday, Meghan shared the image to her Stories taken during a visit to her friend, Alliance of Moms co-founder Kelly, who gave birth to Jack Oliver Zajfen earlier this year.

Unlike Kelly, Meghan typically hides her children, Archie, seven, and five-year-old Lilibet's faces when posting about them on social media.

However, following her friend's approach, she posted newborn Jack's features in the photo, in which she's pictured embracing the baby and pecking him on his head.

'We know I love a redhead,' the Duchess wrote alongside the image, before joking: 'And let me stop you before they start, no it's not his baby.'

Her close friend Kelly, a former model, announced she was expecting Jack in November last year, after tragically losing her 9-year-old son in July 2022, after he contracted a viral illness.

Meghan added a second picture of her fellow California mother, whom she has been friends with for 20 years, smiling alongside Jack, saying: 'Love you @heartmom.'

Earlier this month, the Duchess was forced to defend her decision to share images of her two children online more frequently while warning of the dangers of social media to young people after posting new photos of Lilibet on her fifth birthday.

In a post captioned 'our dream girl', the Duchess of Sussex released the clearest photo yet of Lili to her millions of Instagram followers.

Despite the images showing much of the five-year-old's face, Meghan, through her spokesman, insisted she is protecting her daughter's privacy while sharing important family moments.

The response came after she was accused of hypocrisy last month when she shared an image of Lilibet sitting at her feet in a wardrobe packed with designer fashion before leaving for Geneva to warn of the dangers of social media for children.

'The Duchess has always been clear that there is a distinction between sharing moments from her life and exposing her children to public scrutiny,' her spokesman said.

'By obscuring their faces, she is demonstrating the very principle she advocates for: giving children privacy, agency and protection in an increasingly digital world.'

Hours after the statement was issued, Meghan shared the new images of Lilibet to mark her birthday.