The Queen has banned Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from using 'Sussex Royal' name

Publish Date
Wednesday, 19 February 2020, 12:18PM

As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continue to settle into their new, more private lives, the Queen has just dropped a massive bomb on the duo.

Now, as well as giving up their HRH titles for work purposes and abandoning official appointments and patronages – including Harry's military roles – the Duke and Duchess of Sussex must now drop their "Sussex Royal" name after deciding to step down as senior members of the royal family.

Following lengthy and complex talks, the Queen and senior officials have now agreed it is no longer tenable for the couple to keep the word "royal" in their branding.

According to the Daily Mail, the announcement comes after Harry and Meghan have spent tens of thousands of pounds on a new Sussex Royal website to complement their hugely popular Instagram feed.

They have also sought to register Sussex Royal as a global trademark for a range of items and activities, including clothing, stationery, books and teaching materials.

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In addition, they have taken steps to set up a new charitable organisation: Sussex Royal, The Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

But as a major blow to the Sussexes, they will now need to "re-brand."  

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“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.” - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex For more information, please visit sussexroyal.com (link in bio) Image © PA

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on

The publication also reported that, amid what has been described as a "complex" situation, the "fine details" are still being thrashed out.

The couple are reported to have "no regrets" about their decision to step down.

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