The Queen has ordered Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to drop their "Sussex Royal" label
after choosing to step down as working royals, it was claimed last night.
After weeks of talks, the Queen and senior officials are believed to have told the couple
the term “royal” is inconsistent with their “branding”.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had been holed up with their nine-month-old son Archie at
a $14 million waterfront Vancouver Island mansion.
Harry and Meghan have spent thousands of pounds trademarking the name and also use 'SussexRoyal'
on their Instagram page, which has a whopping 11.2million followers, and their website – the
same number of fans as William and Kate's account.
They have also sought to register Sussex Royal as a global trademark for a range of items
and activities, including clothing, stationery, books and teaching materials.
"If they aren't carrying out official duties and are now seeking other commercial opportunities,
they simply cannot be allowed to market themselves as royals.'”
In addition, they have taken steps to set up a new charitable organisation: Sussex Royal,
The Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
It has now been made clear that they will need to 're-brand'.
However, it is understood the couple have accepted that, as part of their new working
arrangements, they will not be able to use the Sussex Royal name as they had hoped.
The Queen has made clear she does not accept working Royals profiting from their royal
position.
During Megxit talks Buckingham Palace officials had made it clear the use of the word “royal”
would have to be evaluated.
The development is thought to represent a major blow to the Sussexes, who now face starting
again and re-registering everything from their website to their charity under a new label.
Harry and Meghan first began using the Sussex Royal branding this time last year, after
they split their household from that of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – known as
Kensington Royal.
It was a natural progression, therefore, for Harry and Meghan to use the moniker for their
new charitable foundation, due to be launched this year with the support of Buckingham Palace.
And as they secretly prepared for a new life in Canada, it was clear that Sussex Royal
was at the forefront of Harry and Meghan's plans.
Dozens of trademark applications were made for everything from bandanas to notebooks
– although sources have always stressed that these were preventative measures to protect
the trademark from others, and never intended for commercial use.
It comes after Harry and Meghan axed their 15 UK staff, in their surest sign they will
never return to Britain to live.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been condemned by TV host Piers Morgan, while he lavished
praise on Kate and Prince William for taking on more responsibilities after the Sussexes
left their position as senior royals.
On Tuesday, Piers appeared on The Talk, where he spoke to the panel including Sharon Osbourne,
about Kate Middleton’s appearance on a podcast.
The GMB host said that the Duchess's decision to talk candidly about her pregnancy on Giovanna
Fletcher’s ‘Happy Mum, Happy Baby’ show, indicates how the Cambridges have “stepped
up” in the past month since the fallout of Megxit.
He said: “ What's interesting about this is Kate Middleton doesn't normally do podcasts
or interviews.
“So what you're seeing is Meghan and Harry quit Britain, quit the Royals, they don't
want to do it anymore, they want to go and speak to banks and be celebrities.
That's fine. But they've got leave the work, the duty, now for the other royals.
“So in stepped William and Kate. And I think they've really stepped up. “
The surprising decision for Kate to speak about her morning sickness and “mum guilt”
on the podcast has won the royal praise from fans on social media.
One Twitter user said: “Top Show! Top Episode! And yet, no controversy here, and no drama.
Just her true beautiful genuine self!
Another replied: “ It's the first time we've really heard the future queen talk at length—and
she nailed it.”
It was certainly an untraditional move for the Duchess, and perhaps a further indicator
that she is now prepared to ‘use her voice’ to create meaningful conversation.
Piers said Tuesday: “I think in Britain there is a real feeling of warmth towards
them for now taking then duty that Meghan and Harry have abandoned.
“And I think particularly people feel for the Queen. She's 93. Her husband, Phillip,
is 98. He's been very ill, he's been in hospital and they really feel she's been under huge
pressure.
“And I think that Kate and William, all credit to them, when the pressure has been
on, they've stepped on and they're doing the work that needs to be done. And I really salute
them.”
There has also been ongoing speculation about whether Prince Charles will become Monarch.
Piers told the panel at The Talk that he believes that it would cause trouble for anyone to
interfere with the natural succession process.
He explained: “It's a job for life. They believe in the natural order of things. So
they believe if you try and interfere with that and all sorts of trouble starts.
“The queen mother was 101. The queen is 93. I suspect she will live until 100. And
when she dies, it goes to Charles if he's still alive, obviously.
“The royal family believes that you have to keep it natural and the natural order.
“So there's a real issue about the future of the British monarchy. I love the royals.
The Megxit thing has been a big blow to the monarchy and a lot of that will depend on
William and Kate and I wish them the very best and I'm totally supportive of it.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry could be set to play a starring role at next year's World
Economic Forum in Davos, in a move which could see them securing lucrative commercial deals
worth up to £1 billion.
Billionaire business leaders are said to be keen to invite the royal couple to make an
appearance as guest speakers at the prestigious event, which is attended by some of the world’s
most influential people.
The event offers the Duke and Duchess of Sussex the perfect opportunity to expand their business
contacts and promote their brand.
Experts believe that by striking the right balance between corporate deals and brand
ambassador roles, the royal couple could easily net a cool £1 billion, as they seek to secure
their “financial independence”.
PR guru Mark Borkowski told the Mirror that he was not surprised by the move, while a
banking source said: “Harry and Meghan have set a clear path to work with big banks and
corporate giants as well as doing altruistic work with charities.
“The mix works well with the target audience and the celebrity set. However, it is sure
to raise eyebrows in royal circles.
“It has echoes of other royals criticised for touting themselves to the highest bidder
and all becomes rather tawdry.”
If Meghan and Harry accept the invitation, they could cross paths with environmental
activist Greta Thunberg.
The 17-year-old Swede delivered a fiery speech at this year’s forum, where she slammed
world statesmen and business leaders for doing too little to combat global warming.
In her speech she said: “You say children shouldn’t worry. You say: ‘Just leave
this to us. We will fix this, we promise we won’t let you down. Don’t be so pessimistic.’
“And then — nothing. Silence. Or something worse than silence.
“Empty words and promises which give the impression that sufficient action is being
taken.”
She concluded: “Our house is still on fire. Your inaction is fuelling the flames by the
hour. We are telling you to act as if you loved your children above all else.”
This comes as banking insiders have said that there is a “gold rush” to work with the
royal couple.
Prince Harry has already held talks with the controversial US bank Goldman Sachs about
about developing a future partnership.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s sacked staff aren’t likely to be given new jobs
within the Royal Household, according to reports.
The bulk of their 15-member team were notified that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were closing
their Buckingham Palace office after quitting as senior royals.
While a few may take up new royal jobs, most will negotiate redundancy packages.
A source said: Those who worked for Harry and Meghan were very much in their style,
many of them were headhunted from highly successful jobs in the private sector.
The idea that they could simply be moved into a Palace role isn’t going to work.
‘Many of them were attracted by the fact they were working for Harry and Meghan who
liked to do things differently.’
Harry is thought to have asked that he be kept informed of the process and hopes to
personally speak with many of those affected by the end of the month.
Among the contingent believed to be losing their jobs are communications chief Sara Latham
and her deputy Marnie Gaffney. Newly appointed private secretary Fiona Mcilwham is also thought
to be leaving.
Harry’s long-time programme co-ordinator Clara Loughran, who was asked to hand Meghan
her bouquet on her wedding day, will also lose her position, as will social media expert
David Watkins.
They had initially hoped for a dual role, supporting the Queen, the Commonwealth and
Harry’s military associations, but the idea was deemed unworkable.
Buckingham Palace has said the Sussexes’ new life away from royal duties will begin
in the spring of this year.
From the moment that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their intention to renounce
royal duties for a more 'progressive role' overseas, one thing was never in doubt: that
'Sussex Royal' brand would have to go.
But it was never going to meet with the approval of the ultimate arbiter on all things royal
– the Queen.
The only surprising thing is that this may have come as a surprise to the Sussexes themselves.
From the earliest age, Harry has been raised on the sanctity of the 'brand' which has come
to define his existence.
Almost no one else on Earth has grown up thinking it perfectly normal that both parents should
have their own individual standards to be flown above whichever residence or vehicle
they happened to occupy at any given moment.
For the definition of what is and what is not 'royal' is not just a matter of regal
whim.
The Queen is actually governed by several pieces of legislation, including the Trade
Marks Act 1994 and even the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property
of 1883.
The Sussexes have not picked a fight with the Queen but with the law of the land.
Since time immemorial, people have attempted to trade on royal connections, which is why
there have long been strict rules governing everything from the use of the Royal Arms
to the use of crowns on cereal packets.