Queen Elizabeth is not allowing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to use the word "royal" for their commercial ventures. Following reports that Her Majesty blocked the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's bid, the public rallied behind the Queen's decision.
On social media, royal fans said that Queen Elizabeth outwitted Prince Harry and Meghan by enforcing a ban on the use of "royal." One commenter also said that if the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were no longer working for the royal family, then it's only right for the Queen to take back their privilege.
Another royal fan said that Prince Harry and Meghan can no longer rebrand as H & M as well, as this is owned by a popular fashion retailer. Royal aides said that the use of the word is a complicated matter, especially if Prince Harry and Meghan plan to sell merchandise bearing this brand.
Essentially, this blocking prevents Prince Harry and Meghan from commercializing their royal name. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex invested in the trademarks of Sussex Royal in 2019 as part of their plan to become financially independent from the royal family.
However, royal aides said that Prince Harry and Meghan are still going to discuss the finer details of using Sussex Royal in their ventures when they return to London in March. Apart from finalizing their arrangement with the Queen, Prince Harry and Meghan are expected to grace a couple of public celebrations.
Before switching to private life, Prince Harry and Meghan will be at the International Women's Day commemoration on March 8 at the Royal Albert Hall. They will also join the royal family during Commonwealth Day on March 9 in Westminster Abbey.
Officially, however, they will no longer be senior royals after March 31. By April, Prince Harry and Meghan will not be asked to join official palace engagements or represent the Queen in her charities. The agreement will be reviewed after 12 months.
Their step back, however, doesn't mean that Prince Harry is no longer sixth in line to the throne. Royal sources clarified that his status and the Order of Precedence in the British line of succession remains the same.
Prince Harry and Meghan will still continue to be known as The Duke and Duchess of Sussex while they divide their time in the United Kingdom and North America. They will no longer have offices in Buckingham Palace but it will be their foundation team who will be representing the couple in the U.K.
