While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have officially stepped back as senior royals, they are already transitioning as they plan a wide-ranged non-profit organisation empire.
According to trademark applications filed in the U.S., the name ‘Archewell’ has been trademarked. The organisation is set to include websites, films, and their own awards. These awards would be for entities and individuals who have made significant charitable contributions.
Archewell derives from the Greek word arche meaning “sources of action” – word said to be the inspiration for the name of their son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. Archewell will replace the Sussex Royal brand the couple had trademarked in the UK. With their announcement to step back as senior royals, Buckingham Palace banned the Sussexes from using the term.
The application to trademark Archewell was filed on 3 March in Beverly Hills with the filing covering items from educational materials, clothing, stationery, and a nutrition and general health website. It’s thought the latter could possibly be modelled after the Duchess’ lifestyle site which she had prior to marrying Prince Harry, called The Tig.
Harry and Meghan are said to be setting up home in Los Angeles and that they have not wanted to announce any future plans at this time due to the coronavirus pandemic. But it’s said they felt they had to respond after details of their application were discovered by the Daily Telegraph.
In a statement issued on their behalf, the Duke and Duchess said:
“Like you, our focus is on supporting efforts to tackle the global COVID-19 pandemic but faced with this information coming to light, we felt compelled to share the story of how this came to be.
“Before SussexRoyal came the idea of ‘Arche’ – the Greek word meaning ‘source of action.’ We connected to this concept for the charitable organisation we hoped to build one day, and it became the inspiration for our son’s name.”
“To do something of meaning, to do something that matters. Archewell is a name that combines an ancient word for strength and action, and another that evokes the deep resources we each must draw upon.
“We look forward to launching Archewell when the time is right.”
Archie will turn one on 6 May.
