Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are reportedly planning to set up an honors awards scheme as inspired by Queen Elizabeth for their new foundation, Archewell.
Twice a year, Her Majesty honors several people with gongs like the CBE, OBE, MBE, and knighthood. According to The Sun, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex apparently plan to do something similar and recognize Americans in the field of science, literature, mental health, gender equity, racial justice, charitable service, education, environmental stewardship, and youth empowerment.
Prince Harry and Meghan apparently filed the paperwork in the U.S. for the awards scheme when they submitted trademark documents for Archewell in March. However, the paperwork was rejected because some of the details were incomplete. The Duke and Duchess had to refile within six months, and the paperwork is currently in review.
Details regarding Harry and Meghan's awards scheme are still scarce. But if it's like the gongs from Queen Elizabeth, the recipients are also usually categorized into different fields of excellence.
Those who receive the Queen's Commander of the Order of the British Empire or CBE awards are usually prominent national or regional leaders who excel in one particular field. Author Stephen Hawking and The Crown actress Helena Bonham Carter are CBE awardees.
The Order of the British Empire or OBE, on the other hand, is in recognition of people whose works and contributions are done at the local level but whose roles are so important and valuable that they deserve national recognition. Harry Potter author JK Rowling and football player David Beckham are OBE awardees.
A Member of the Order of the British Empire or MBE is given to individuals whose work or service brings a long-term effect on a community. Singers Adele and Ed Sheeran were given these awards.
Queen Elizabeth's awards scheme is decided upon by a panel or a committee whose members are senior civil servants in the government or in an independent institution. It's unclear if Prince Harry and Meghan have the same access or capacity to carry out such a system.
The Queen's gongs aren't also always welcome because some awardees have turned down the CBE, OBE and MBE for many reasons, including politics or anti-monarchism. Others see the gong as problematic and without any meaning since there is no more "empire" to speak of.
For instance, music David Bowie rejected the chance to have A CBE in 2000, and he subsequently rejected a knighthood three years later. C.S. Lewis, the famous author, and professor, also declined an award in 1951. Director Danny Boyle also didn't feel he deserved individual recognition when his award-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire was an ensemble production.
Meghan and Prince Harry will need to clearly define their awards scheme to avoid rejections and controversies.
