Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced last month that they will be stepping down from being senior royals to focus more on their family and charities. And just like most decisions out there, theirs also come with a price.
After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s shocking announcement, the Buckingham Palace revealed that one of the exit terms that Queen Elizabeth and the Sussex couple agreed on is for them to prevent from using their HRH (His Royal Highness or Her Royal Highness) titles. Also, the Prince will lose his military titles.
Now, a new report revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could break the UK law if they’ll use their Sussex brand. Sally Britton, a partner at international law firm Mishcon de Reya, said that they should be “mindful” when rebranding.
“There are specific provisions in the Trade Marks Act that prohibit the use and registration of the term Royal and royal insignia (including Royal crowns) as trademarks if they suggest royal patronage, or a royal association, such as employment, without specific consent from the Queen,” she said. “It is unsurprising that the Queen appears to have asked Harry and Meghan to rebrand.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have already spent a lot of money trademarking the Sussex Royal brand. The couple is still using the brand for their official social media accounts as of this writing.
“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,” a royal insider said.
And even though the couple will still be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, they can “no longer formally represent” Queen Elizabeth in their new lives.
“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,” the source shared. “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.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are currently living on a private mansion on Vancouver Island, Canada with their son Archie. Previous reports revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have their eyes on the entertainment industry as they seek to secure financial independence.
