22 Feb 2020

Harry and Meghan to end use of 'SussexRoyal' brand

2:10 pm on 22 February 2020

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to stop using their "SussexRoyal" brand from the northern hemisphere spring.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at the Esplanade in front of the Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, on February 13, 2018, on their first official joint visit to Scotland.

Discussions have continued for weeks about the future of Prince Harry and Meghan since they announced they wanted to step back from royal duties. Photo: AFP

A spokesperson for the couple said due to government rules around the use of the word "royal" it had been agreed not to name their non-profit organisation the Sussex Royal Foundation.

An application to trademark the Sussex Royal brand has also been withdrawn.

It comes after the couple announced in January they would be stepping back from royal duties.

Details of how this would work were then unveiled, following days of talks with the Queen and other senior royals.

As part of the agreement, it was decided the couple would formally retain their HRH titles but not use them.

However, the use of the word "Royal" had remained under discussion.

Harry and Meghan's foundation applied to trademark the Sussex Royal brand - used on their website and social media - in June last year.

A spokesperson for the Sussexes said they were "focused" on plans to establish their new organisation in the spring.

The decision not to name the organisation the Sussex Royal Foundation was a result of the "specific UK government rules surrounding the use of the word Royal" the spokesperson added.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use 'SussexRoyal' in any territory post spring 2020.

"Therefore, the trademark applications that were filed as protective measures, acting on advice from and following the same model for the Royal Foundation, have been removed."

It was announced this week that the couple will formally step down as senior royals from 31 March.

They will no longer carry out duties on behalf of the Queen but arrangements will be reviewed after 12 months.

A spokesperson for the couple said the duke and duchess of Sussex intend to split their time between the UK and North America, and they would be in the UK "regularly".

They will attend six events in the UK in February and March, including the Commonwealth Day Service on 9 March.

Harry is also expected to attend the London Marathon in April in his capacity as patron, while the couple will also attend the Invictus Games in the Netherlands in May.

The couple have been in Canada with their son, Archie, for much of this year, after briefly returning to the UK in January following an extended six-week Christmas break on Vancouver Island.

Before stepping back from their royal duties, they had spoken about how they had struggled under the media spotlight.

Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Archie at the Old Granary Building  in Cape Town, on September 25, 2019, for a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mrs Tutu

Harry and Meghan and son Archie, seen here meeting Bishop Desmond Tutu in Cape Town in September, have been based in Vancouver, Canada, since announcing their exit from the British Royal Family. Photo: AFP

- BBC

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