Meghan Markle's decade-old 'no $100 candles' remark resurfaces amid criticism over luxury product range

Meghan Markle is facing fresh scrutiny after a decade-old interview resurfaced in which she declared that selling candles for more than $100 would contradict her "affordable for all" philosophy. The clip has caught the attention of many who argue it sits uncomfortably alongside her current product range, sparking a fresh wave of debate about the Duchess's public image and brand messaging.Filmed at the Create and Cultivate conference in Atlanta in October 2016, the video shows Meghan promoting her now-defunct lifestyle blog shortly after her relationship with Prince Harry was made public. "There are no $100 candles on my site; that's so obnoxious," she said at the time. "I just want things on there that you can have. And I want people who understand that ethos.I've always crafted it as 'aspirational girl next door', like, you can aspire for it but totally attain it too."According to a report by the Express, Meghan's website now sells a range of luxury scented candles alongside her $12 jars of strawberry and raspberry spread. Her individual candles start at $64 each. The range includes a candle fragranced with Moroccan mint, cardamom and tea leaves, another with notes of amber, water lily and sandalwood, and a third carrying hints of ginger, neroli and cashmere.Shoppers can also purchase a two-candle set with matches for $128, with another duo available at the same price point. A collection of four candles and a box of matches is available for $256, with no discount applied for buying in bulk.The resurfaced clip has drawn pointed responses online. "Ironically, she is now selling candles on her website for more than $100. This is how your own words can come back to bite," one person wrote. "This is so on brand for her," added another, while a third said they would "gladly buy them from Princess Catherine."However, many defenders have pushed back on the comparisons. Supporters noted that the individual candles are priced below the $100 threshold Meghan originally referenced, and that inflation since 2016 has raised prices across consumer goods broadly. "The 2016 clip criticized $100-plus candles as 'obnoxious' in a different economic climate, but today's single-candle price is lower than that threshold at $64," one supporter argued.Others pointed to comparable luxury brands as context, with one fan noting that high-end candle brands sell single candles for as much as $540. "You people really need to stop because you sound stupid talking about Meghan's mere $64 candle," the fan wrote, while another added, "The price is very reasonable compared to other quality candles. They're not meant to be cheap chain store candles."The debate reflects the broader scrutiny that tends to follow any new move from Markle in the public sphere, with her words and actions from years past frequently being held up against her present-day choices.