Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not use the word “royal” moving forward, a spokesperson for the couple confirmed on Friday, February 21, 2020.
“While The Duke and Duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organisation, given the specific UK government rules surrounding use of the word ‘Royal,’ it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organisation, when it is announced this Spring, will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation,” according to a statement from the spokesperson. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use ‘SussexRoyal’ in any territory post Spring 2020.”
The spokesperson added that trademark applications that were filed as protective measures, acting on advice from and following the same model for The Royal Foundation, have been removed.
There were previously “ongoing discussions” on whether or not Meghan and Harry could use the word “royal” after their decision to step down as senior members of the family. Their new charity organization was reportedly going to be named “Sussex Royal, the Charity Foundation.”
It was announced this week that Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, will formally step down as senior royals next month. The agreement reached between Queen Elizabeth and the couple will be put into effect starting March 31, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex says.
Harry and Meghan will also no longer hold an office at Buckingham Palace and will instead be represented by their U.K. charity foundation team.
“The Duke and Duchess will be spending their time in both the United Kingdom and North America,” the spokesperson added. “In addition to continuing to work closely with their existing patronages as they build a plan for engagements in the U.K. and the Commonwealth throughout the year, The Duke and Duchess have also been undertaking meetings as part of their ongoing work to establish a new non-profit organization. The details of this new organization will be shared later in the year.”
“In general, the themes of their cause related work will remain unchanged, which includes the Commonwealth, community, youth empowerment and mental health, collectively.”
