The Queen has dealt a setback to the Duke & Duchess of Sussex after Her Majesty ruled that the couple can no longer use their ‘Sussex Royal’ brand.
According to reports in Wednesday’s Daily Mail, the couple will no longer be able to use the ‘royal’ name because such a sensitive word is not compatible with a commercial enterprise.
Harry & Meghan will now need to reassess their entire operation going forward as they had hoped to register ‘Sussex Royal’ as a worldwide trademark under which they could sell a range of products, including items of clothing.
The couple’s Instagram page, which has amassed a following of more than 11 million people, will also have to be renamed, as will their website, sussexroyal.com.
The Sussexes have so far spent many tens of thousands of pounds on their Sussex Royal brand, all of which will now need to change.
A source told the Mail: “In many ways this is inevitable given their decision to step down, but it must surely come as a blow to the couple as they have invested everything into the Sussex Royal brand The Queen would have had little choice, however.
“The Sussexes’ original plan – of being half-in, half-out working royals – was never going to work. Obviously, as the Queen has made clear, they are still much-loved members of her family.
“But 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.”
Under a new model which will take effect in the Spring of 2020, Harry & Meghan will drop their HRH styles.
They no longer formally represent The Queen and will spent the majority of their time in North America.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the Mail’s story.
