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The question of whether or not Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will be allowed to continue using the name Sussex Royal after formally giving up their royal duties was finally answered today, with Buckingham Palace announcing the pair will not use the name going forward.
According to a Palace spokesperson, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will pick a new name for their branding without the word “Royal” in, citing UK government rules about its usage. The statement also asserted that trademark applications for Sussex Royal were only filed as “protective measures.”
Royal reporter Omid Scobie tweeted out the statement, which read:
While the Duke and Duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organization, given the specific UK government rules surrounding use of the word ‘Royal,’ it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organization, when it is announced this Spring, will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation.
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.
The statement comes hours after the Daily Mail published a story claiming Meghan told friends that she intends to use Sussex Royal regardless of the Queen’s feelings about it.
Buckingham Palace announced earlier this week that Meghan and Harry will officially give up their royal duties on March 31. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be back in England to do their final events as working royal family members starting at the end of next week. The couple’s next joint engagement will be the Endeavor Awards on March 5.