Meghan Markle has had a "lot of trouble" finding people to help her with her new lifestyle brand, according to a royal commentator.

In March, Meghan announced her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, and details about the company are still scarce although it has been revealed that it will focus on home, garden, and general lifestyle content.

Speaking to GBN America, royal biographer Angela Levin said that the duchess is at a "stalemate" with the business venture.

She said: "She is very upset about what is happening with this American Orchard Rivera, she is not happy about how it has been received. The jam was a bit of a laughing stock, she sent it off to about fifty friends and only a few replied.

"Everyone said that she is in a jam. It is not moving forward. She has had a lot of trouble finding a CEO to run it for her and she is having a lot of trouble finding a chef. Some of them have gone along to see how it is but they say she is so meticulous about everything.

"She's so demanding and they don't really want that. These are chefs who have good jobs, and they're not people who are learning.

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"So it's a bit of a stalemate, but she has got 150 things on her link, and she's applied for a global patent.

"Some of the things [she will be selling] are fabric gift wraps, cocktail napkins, meditation maps, pillows for household pets, a whole range of things from A to Z.

"We'll have to see how she gets on. I think she's she's finding it much more difficult than she thought.

"I think she thought she would sail in and everybody would think it was wonderful, which I think she does a lot about herself. But actually it's jolly hard work."

Last month, Meghan sent 50 jars of strawberry jam – each of which featured a handwritten number between one and 50 – to influencers and famous friends, including Chrissy Teigen and Suits co-star Abigail Spencer.

The Duchess is expected to officially launch American Riviera Orchard later this spring, with a source telling People Magazine: "Meghan finds the name American Riviera Orchard perfect. It feels authentic to her.

"She can't wait for the website to launch. She is excited about her latest, personal venture.

"This is something she's been wanting to do for a while. She is excited to share her style and things that she loves.'

The strawberry jam from Meghan's American Riviera Orchard brand seems to fit with the couple's latest Netflix plans.

Meghan is going to launch a Netflix show which will "celebrate the joys of cooking and gardening, entertaining, and friendship".

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a five-year production deal with Netflix in 2020, said to be worth $100.