Harry and Meghan Stripped of ‘Sussex Royal’ Brand in Blow too Commercial Ambitions
London, UK – Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, suffered a setback in their post-royal life as they were compelled to relinquish the ”Sussex Royal” brand, a move a royal expert described as “exactly the commercialisation of the monarchy” the couple had pledged to avoid. The decision,made by Queen Elizabeth II and senior officials in 2020,followed Harry and Meghan’s announcement to step back as senior working royals.
The couple had initially established the Sussex Royal brand in 2019 after separating their household from Prince William and Princess Kate’s Kensington Royal operation. Their accompanying Instagram page, @sussexroyal, rapidly gained traction, amassing 11.2 million followers – matching the popularity of William and kate’s account.
Though,a source revealed to the Mail that the Queen determined the couple could not continue to utilize the royal designation while pursuing commercial ventures. “In many ways, this is inevitable given their decision to step down,” the source stated. “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 source further explained that Harry and meghan’s initial desire to maintain a “half-in, half-out” role was unsustainable. “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.”
The brand relinquishment occurred after Harry and Meghan’s discussions at Sandringham in January 2020, where they initially outlined their plans for financial independence. The move underscores the strict protocols surrounding the commercial use of royal titles and the limitations placed on those who are no longer actively fulfilling royal duties. This development precedes an incident involving an ‘awkward’ joke made by meghan markle to Kate Middleton that reportedly received an embarrassing response.