Meghan and Harry’s official Instagram under fire for promoting luxury £3,600 retreat run by Duchess’ pal to 7.6million followers
THE Duke and Duchess of Sussex were criticised last night for using their Instagram account to promote a luxury £900-a-night retreat run by Meghan’s close friend.
A message from the royal couple to their 7.6million followers promoting a mental health campaign featured a link to fitness guru Taryn Toomey’s business The Class.
Mrs Toomey, who attended Meghan’s £350,000 New York baby shower in February, has a link on the profile to the website of her lucrative enterprise.
The site allows visitors to book a £3,600 four-night retreat that Mrs Toomey, 48, hosts at a luxury resort on the private Caribbean island of Mustique.
Her business was among the worthy causes that the royal couple wanted to “shine a light” on for doing “amazing work for mental health”.
A royal expert last night slammed the post – saying the couple were on “dangerous ground” by promoting a friend’s business.
The Royal Family must be cleaner than clean
Penny Junor
Author and broadcaster Penny Junor, who has written several royal biographies, told the Mail On Sunday it was “wrong”.
She added: “The Royal Family must be cleaner than clean.”
Guests taking part in the Mustique retreat can take part in meditation and exercise classes at The Cotton House – which is set in 13 acres of tropical gardens.
They are also invited to “take a dip in the pool, lay out on the beach, surf the pristine waters, go on a guided hike… or simply fall asleep in one of the many beachside hammocks,” the site says.
Another retreat is based on the celebrity playground island of Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts.
The website also sells jewellery – including £1,200 “peach moonstones” – and beauty products such as a £270 “anti-ageing” cream.
ROYAL SUPPORT ‘AN HONOUR’
Mrs Toomey and her financier husband had until recently lived in a stunning £5million Manhattan apartment – which they sold in 2017.
She said in an interview last month: “I’m always thinking about how to create more cash flow so I can live a life that I love.”
A spokesperson for Mrs Toomey’s company, based in the US tax haven state Delaware, said it was a “great honour to be highlighted and supported by the Duke and Duchess.”
But Ms Junor added: “The Royal Family has to be incredibly careful of promoting their friends – to do so is wrong, they shouldn’t be doing it.
“They are in an unusual position and have a real responsibility because they are hugely influential so it is very important that they don’t favour friends.
“I would say that to endorse commercial organisations is a mistake anyway.
“I think they should stick to charities.”
MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN
Meghan and Harry’s Instagram account had posted: “To pay tribute to all of the incredible work people across the globe are doing in this space, we are hoping to shine a light on several Instagram accounts that promote mental well-being, mental fitness, body positivity, self-care, and the importance of human connection – to not just hear each other, but to listen.
“There are countless organisations doing amazing work for mental health – please consider the accounts we’ve highlighted as a small snapshot of this global support network.
“We invite you to explore the extraordinary stories of strength, and the commitment to kindness as seen in the above accounts.”
MOST READ IN NEWS
Last night a spokesman for the Sussexes declined to comment on Meghan’s friendship with Mrs Toomey.
She added: “As the post states, the Duke and Duchess wanted to pay tribute to all of the incredible work people across the globe are doing in this space.
“The Duke of Sussex has on many occasions spoken publicly, on Instagram and most recently at Thursday’s Invictus 2020 launch in The Hague, about his belief that mental fitness is key.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.