Prince Harry and Meghan Markle banned from using ‘royal’ for their website name

Since the beginning of the year, the gap between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family has never seemed bigger. Indeed, while the UK-based royals battle personal issues which force them to stay out of the public eye, the US-based couple is everywhere.

Between a movie premier in Jamaica, launching a new website and going to Canada for the Invictus Games, the two royal entities are obviously working at different beats. The Sussexes’ decision to step down as senior members of the Royal Family in 2020 has never been more apparent.

However, it still seems like the obsession with the couple is a bit much. Whatever they do they get bad press. This time, it’s a report from 2020 that is making a comeback.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s website name

Mirror is the one bringing this back but the original story was reported by Daily Mail in 2020. At the time the tabloid wrote that the couple had to drop the ‘royal’ from their ‘sussexroyal’ website and Instagram page.

The Mail reported that using the term ‘royal’ was no longer ‘tenable’ for the couple to use in their ‘branding’ after stepping down from their roles. The tabloid continued to explain that the couple attempted to ‘register Sussex Royal as a global trademark’ but that the decision coming from the late Queen and senior official prevented them from doing so.

The Mail continued their article by saying that the couple would need a rebranding. At the time, the rebranding came easily with the development of the Archewell Foundation which became the website on which the couple made announcements.

This ‘ban’ - reportedly coming from the Queen and her officials - also impacted the couple’s highly popular Instagram page. To this day (February 2024), the page still counts over nine million followers even though their departure from this account was announced at the end of March 2020.

The new website, made available this week, indeed shows no use of the word ‘royal’. However, the Sussexes have reclaimed both their titles and coat of arms – a decision which had a lot of people furious.

Meghan Markle speaks out about the new website

Amid all the backlash their new website gathered since its launch, Meghan Markle addressed it. However, if you thought the Duchess would address the controversy, think again.

Instead, Markle has chosen to focus on the positive and on the work – something the couple has been doing for a while now after their repeated claims and revelations against various members of the Royal Family.

Sky News reports on the royal’s statement concerning the decision to launch their website. Markle stated:

There is a reason I have worked with Ryan and the talented team at Article for a decade: their attention to detail, their creativity and care, and the thoughtful approach to design as well as to the user experience

In the statement, the Duchess continues by praising the work of her web designers. The new website also coincides with the announcement of her new podcast with production company Lemonada.

Read more:

⋙ Kate Middleton: Source explains how she could be key to reconciliation between Princes William and Harry

⋙ Meghan Markle: Here’s why the Duchess wears three wedding rings

⋙ King Charles: What we know about claims he owns 'seven star hotel' in controversial area of Cyprus

Sources:

Daily Mail: Queen BANS Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from using lucrative 'Sussex Royal' brand that they hoped to use to build new lives because 'they simply cannot sell themselves as Royals’

Mirror: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's forgotten website they were banned from using after weeks

Sky News: Meghan breaks silence after website rebrand