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 spending tens of thousands of pounds on a new Sussex Royal website and trademarks, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have lost their fight to keep the lucrative Royal brand.
Harry and Meghan will have to find a new brand after lengthy talks with the Queen and senior officials means the couple can reportedly no longer use the Sussex Royal name.
A source told The Daily 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.
“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.’”
The pair who now face rebranding their website and their charitable organisation – Sussex Royal, The Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
A royal source said overnight: “As The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are stepping back as senior Members of the Royal Family and will work towards financial independence, use of the word ‘Royal’, in this context, needed to be reviewed. Discussions are still ongoing.”
The Sussexes’ Instagram page, @sussexroyal, has 11.2million followers and dozens of trademark applications were made for various products.
The Duke and Duchess had been busy putting the Sussex Royal stamp on a number of items from pencils to socks since June as they move towards becoming “financially independent”. They also launched a new website, which went live to coincide with their bombshell revelation.
During Megxit talks Buckingham Palace officials had made it clear the use of the word “royal” would have to be evaluated.
It comes after Harry and Meghan axed their 15 UK staff, in their surest sign they will never return to Britain to live.
