Meghan Markle and Prince Harry aren't planning to set up an awards program that will be similar to Queen Elizabeth's annual honors list. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex immediately came out with a statement to deny that this awards program will rival Her Majesty in honoring distinguished individuals in various fields of expertise.
According to Elle, tabloids like The Sun and the Daily Mail allegedly learned that Prince Harry and Meghan are setting up a "woke" awards and have filed the necessary paperwork for it. The awards will apparently be given through their soon-to-be-launched Archewell foundation.
The Sun based their story on Harry and Meghan's U.S. trademark application for Archewell, which partly details the foundation's general focus. Newsweek, however, stated that trademark applications are only for protecting the organization's right to put their name in their future work or activities. It does not establish that there will indeed be an awards or honors list.
This means that if and when Harry and Meghan decide to have an awards program in the future, then they are legally protected to attach their chosen name to this endeavor because of the trademark. Newsweek sources also confirmed that the trademark application is to protect Archewell's future projects.
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said reports suggesting that Archewell will have an honors' list to compete with Queen Elizabeth's CBE, OBE and MBE aren't true. The spokesperson added that more details about the foundation would roll out in the "weeks ahead."
The British tabloids also reported on the trademark hitches Harry and Meghan encountered for Archewell. However, their spokesperson said that this is not unusual nor surprising as it follows "the normal course of business" in applying for a trademark in the United States.
Harry and Meghan originally planned to launch Archwell in April, but they had to push back and refocus their strategy as the world was dealing with a pandemic crisis. In October, the pair unveiled the official site of their new foundation, which barely has any details.
A source told Elle that Archewell's formal launch is still being worked out hence the barebones website. However, everything that Harry and Meghan have been working on since stepping back as working royals in March will form part of the thrust, advocacy and mission of Archewell.
Meghan and Harry hired a U.S. team to set up their new foundation to replace Sussex Royal. The pair also consulted with experts at Stanford University in planning out what they want to do with Archewell's long-term goals.
