Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have launched a new website under the domain Sussex.com in an attempt to re-brand themselves as they continue to adjust to life outside of the royal family.
Critics have lashed out at the couple who now live in California, with many complaining they are using this as a means to cash in via their royal links.
Queen Elizabeth Forces Harry and Meghan to Drop Label
After deciding to withdraw from royal duties in 2020, Queen Elizabeth asked Harry and Meghan to drop the “Sussex Royal” label they used as branding.
While Harry and Meghan are still respectfully known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the queen asked them no longer to use their HRH titles for any kind of business and to refrain from making money off their royal connections, according to The Daily Mail.
Sussex Royal Website Becomes Archewell
Weeks before the meeting with the queen in Sandringham, Prince Harry and Meghan had launched a website with the domain SussexRoyal.com.
In the wake of the meeting, they were forbidden from using the domain. Their website, later named Archewell, sheds insight into the charitable and commercial work done by the couple.
Megan and Harry Relaunch Sussex Website
Recently, the couple decided to relaunch their website under the new domain Sussex.com last Monday.
The new website features Meghan’s coat of arms and has plenty of news and updates on the couple’s most recent projects.
Link Back to Sussex Royal Website
One particular facet of the website has garnered backlash online.
On the webpage, a link for “The Office of Prince Harry & Meghan” leads users back to the Sussex page, which some argue violates Harry’s promise to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.
Royal Commentator Shares Opinion
Speaking with The Daily Mail, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliam shared his opinion on Harry and Meghan’s decision to continue using the Sussex site.
He said it “makes no sense to include a name they can’t use.” Fitzwilliam continued, “It is something of an aberration.”
Criticism Aimed at New Website
The new website has been met with considerable backlash online after critics suggested it’s nothing more than a way to make money off their royal links.
According to The Independent, one critic said it has created a “blurred line between the past and the present.”
The Queen Would Have Been Furious
The Daily Mail reported that many close to the royal family are in agreement that the use of the Sussex name in terms of branding goes against what the late Queen Elizabeth would have wanted.
Some even described it as a breach of faith, complaining “if not in letter, certainly in spirit.”
King Charles Is Not Focused on the Situation
The palace has yet to make any official announcement on Prince Harry and Meghan’s use of the Sussex name for business purposes.
However, an inside source spoke with The Daily Mail and said, “The king has other things he needs to focus on at the moment, and the last thing His Majesty needs is another fight with his son. But this won’t go down well at all.”
Not Everyone Is Against the Sussex Domain
One couple close to Prince Harry and Meghan defended their use of the Sussex domain when speaking in an interview.
“Prince Harry and Meghan are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. That is a fact. It is their surname and family name,” they told The Daily Mail.
Beginning to Look More Royal
Another source who spoke with The Daily Mail argued that Harry and Meghan are “really pushing it” with their rebranding.
“The only rebrand this looks like is to make them seem more royal. It’s hugely problematic and a real headache for the Lord Chamberlain,” said one source.
Meghan Speaks on the Rebranding of the Website
The Duchess of Sussex spoke on the rebranding of the website, praising the creator’s “attention to detail” and “creativity and care” (via The Independent).
She continued, “They’re not just designers; they are collaborators who elevate your ideas into visual identities. They’re a very special company. Plus, they’re Canadian, so I’m a fan.”
