Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reveal they will stop using ‘Sussex Royal’ brand name from the spring after being banned by the Queen
- The word ‘royal’ will be blacklisted from couple’s future venture outside Family
- The planned non-profit organisation will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation
- Feared couple could rinse their royal credentials to secure lucrative brand deals
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer use their Sussex Royal brand, their spokeswoman confirmed tonight.
The word ‘royal’ will be blacklisted from the couple’s future ventures as they step back from Family duties.
While the Duke and Duchess plan to establish a charitable foundation, it was feared they could exploit the royal brand to secure lucrative commercial deals.
Their spokeswoman said: ‘While The Duke and Duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organisation, given the specific UK Government rules surrounding use of the word Royal, it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organisation, when it is announced this Spring, will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer use their Sussex Royal brand, their spokeswoman confirmed tonight
‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use ‘SussexRoyal’ in any territory post Spring 2020.’
Harry and Meghan’s hugely popular Instagram account is called Sussex Royal, meaning a re-brand is likely.
Since the couple’s bombshell decision to break ties with the Family and uproot to Canada, courtiers feared they could rinse their royal credentials for profit.
The couple said on Wednesday that their lives as working royals will end on March 31 when they stop representing the Queen and become financially independent.
Harry and Meghan will embark on a new chapter in North America, but sources have stressed they “will be in the United Kingdom regularly” and retain the same charitable goals supporting causes from the Commonwealth to mental health.
The Duke and Duchess will attend the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, likely to be their last official appearance as working members of the monarchy, with the Queen and other senior royals.
The event is normally attended by the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and is a major engagement in the Queen’s calendar.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow…