Queen could stop Harry and Meghan using 'royal' brand: reports

Feb 19, 2020

The couple will formally step down as senior royals from March 31, the spokeswoman said, and will no longer carry out duties on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II after that date

ROYAL FAMILY MONARCHY

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will begin their new life outside the royal inner circle at the start of April, their spokeswoman said Wednesday, as Buckingham Palace said it was reviewing the couple's use of the "Sussex Royal" label.

The couple will formally step down as senior royals from March 31, the spokeswoman said, and will no longer carry out duties on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II after that date.

They will no longer have an office at Buckingham Palace -- the queen's London residence -- and will instead be represented through their British charity from April 1, she added.

Harry, the 35-year-old second son of the heir apparent Prince Charles, will remain sixth in line to the throne, with no change in the line of succession.

The former army officer will also keep his military ranks of major, lieutenant commander and squadron leader in the army, navy and air force, the spokeswoman announced.

  n this file photo taken on eptember 23 2019 rince arry uke of ussex and eghan uchess of ussex arrive to visit the ustice desk an  in the township of yanga in ape own as they begin their tour of the region  rince arry and his wife eghan could be banned from using the ussex oyal label following their retreat from frontline duties reports said on ednesday hoto by ourtney     (FILES) In this file photo taken on September 23, 2019 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive to visit the "Justice desk", an NGO in the township of Nyanga in Cape Town, as they begin their tour of the region. - Prince Harry and his wife Meghan could be banned from using the "Sussex Royal" label following their retreat from frontline duties, reports said on Wednesday. (Photo by Courtney AFRICA / POOL / AFP)

 
He and Meghan, 38, will continue to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as well as the Earl and Countess of Dumbarton in Scotland, and Baron and Baroness Kilkeel in Northern Ireland.

- Royal review -

Harry and US former actress Meghan stunned the family last month by announcing that they wanted to step back from front-line royal duties.

The couple cited wanting financial independence as one factor in their decision.

But they could be dealt a blow after it was reported that the queen could ban them from using the "Sussex Royal" brand.

The couple use the name for their popular Instagram account and a website set up after their shock announcement. They also have made dozens of trademark applications for various products.

But future use of the name "needed to be reviewed" and talks were continuing, an unnamed royal source was quoted as saying by Britain's domestic Press Association news agency.

"As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are stepping back as senior members of the royal family and will work towards financial independence, use of the word 'royal', in this context, needed to be reviewed," the source said.

  n this file photo taken on ctober 15 2019 ritains rince arry uke of ussex and ritains eghan uchess of ussex attend the annual ellhild wards in ondon  rince arry and his wife eghan could be banned from using the ussex oyal label following their retreat from frontline duties reports said on ednesday hoto by      (FILES) In this file photo taken on October 15, 2019 Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the annual WellChild Awards in London. - Prince Harry and his wife Meghan could be banned from using the "Sussex Royal" label following their retreat from frontline duties, reports said on Wednesday. (Photo by TOBY MELVILLE / POOL / AFP)

 
The Daily Mail newspaper reported on Wednesday that senior officials had already agreed it was no longer "tenable" for the couple to keep the word "royal" in their branding.

Harry and Meghan have been living in a luxury mansion on Canada's Pacific west coast with their baby son Archie since the New Year.

Meanwhile, the National Theatre -- of which Meghan is a patron -- denied claims it was angered by the couple's decision to move to Canada.

Its artistic director Rufus Norris told The Daily Telegraph newspaper that Meghan's patronage was expected to be "business as usual" and reports to the contrary were "a complete fiction".

Harry and Meghan first used the Sussex Royal name when they created their own household following a split from brother Prince William.

Harry said in October that he and his brother were on "different paths".

 

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