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Harry and Meghan: Talks continue on whether couple can keep Sussex Royal brand

Written by on 19/02/2020

Discussions are ongoing as to whether Prince Harry and wife Meghan will be allowed to keep using their Sussex Royal brand.

Sky News understands that the label, used on the couple’s website and Instagram page, has been under review since they announced that they would be stepping back from their roles as senior members of the royal family.

With Harry and Meghan having committed themselves to a life of financial independence, market experts have suggested that their Sussex brand could make an “absolute fortune”.

But the “royal” part of their Sussex Royal moniker has proved to be a sticking point so far, with a royal source indicating that the use of the word “in this context, needed to be reviewed”.

The Daily Mail reported on Wednesday that the couple would no longer be able to use the Sussex Royal brand.

The royal source added: “Discussions are still ongoing.”

“As part of the process to transition the Duke and Duchess of Sussex into their new chapter, planning has been well underway around the launch of their new non-profit organisation. Details will be shared in due course.”

While their use of Sussex Royal remains up in the air, some of the arrangements surrounding the couple’s exit from the front line of the monarchy have been confirmed.

Following talks with the Queen, it was revealed that they would not be able to use their HRH titles anymore and would instead be styled as Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

They will lose the money they are given each year from the royal purse in order to pursue their own sources of income, and will repay the £2.4m of taxpayers’ money spent refurbishing their home in Windsor, Frogmore Cottage.

The couple have not announced any commercial deals since their bombshell announcement, although there will be plenty of interest in working with them – with Netflix already indicating that it’s keen on a partnership.

While their future endeavours remain something of a mystery, Harry and Meghan have been laying low in Canada with their son Archie.

The couple are staying on Vancouver Island, having spent six weeks there over Christmas.

Buckingham Palace has indicated that their new life will begin in the spring, with Harry having already attended what to many felt like his final public engagement as a senior royal last month.

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The couple are also understood to have cut the roles of 15 staff as they close their Buckingham Palace office.

(c) Sky News 2020: Harry and Meghan: Talks continue on whether couple can keep Sussex Royal brand