Palace Confirms Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Gave Up the Fight for ‘Sussex Royal’ Name
The rumors are true. After news broke earlier this week that Queen Elizabeth might not approve of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex using the word “royal” as part of their branding strategy anymore, we now have confirmation that they’re moving forward without that descriptor.
This latest breaking news comes on the heels of a busy month of royal announcements. It all started in January when Harry and Meghan shocked everyone by declaring their intentions to step back as senior working royals while still “supporting the Queen.” Though these two didn’t know exactly what their new roles would look like, they knew things needed to change.
But it’s clear they didn’t anticipate changing their whole concept. The couple just spent thousands updating their website, sussexroyal.com, plus built an Instagram following of more than 11 million fans with the handle @sussexroyal. They were planning to launch a new foundation in the spring with Sussex Royal as the name.
This news means they’ll have to change all their plans.
Queen Elizabeth didn’t want the couple using ‘royal’ in their branding anymore
After several days of intense rumors, the palace confirmed they were all true. “While The Duke and Duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organisation, given the specific UK government rules surrounding use of the word ‘Royal’, it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organisation, when it is announced this Spring, will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation,” the statement confirmed.
It went on to explain that patents for the name “Sussex Royal Foundation” had been filed just in case they were needed, but now those trademark applications have been removed.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are getting what they asked for
It might seem like a harsh move to outsiders, but actually Queen Elizabeth banning her grandson and his wife from using the word “royal” in their branding efforts is giving them exactly what they asked for. Now the couple will have to rebuild their reputation from scratch instead of relying on the family legacy.
Of course, it helps that everyone already knows who they are. But after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex come up with a new name for their foundation, social media, and website, they’ll be able to know they built their own following without using their royal clout to attract fans.
They will revisit the agreement in one year
Even if Harry and Meghan live to regret their decision to leave the royal family, there is a strategy in place that would allow them to rejoin. Part of the agreement with Queen Elizabeth states that both sides will reconvene one year from the departure date to discuss what happens after.
Will the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decide to come back to the royal family, especially now that they can’t call themselves royal anymore? Or will they find greener, more lucrative pastures after dropping the “royal” part of their brand?
We’ll find out soon enough.
