Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s act deemed ‘beyond parody’ by Royal Family

When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided that they wanted to forge a new path away for themselves, the nation was shocked by the news, as were those working at Buckingham Palace and the other senior royals – reports have claimed. But a few months before the couple had decided that they would prefer to represent the monarchy on a part-time basis, they made one particular business move that a royal expert has claimed the other royals were not particularly impressed by.

Whilst the couple initially hoped they would be able to come to some kind of compromise with the House of Windsor and maintain some of their royal patronages and still live in the UK some of the time, in the end, a total break with their official positions was made – including the removal of their police security. But before the couple announced their decision, they reportedly made a trademark application for ‘Sussex Royal’ the moniker they used for their official website, and their social media accounts, which had wracked up an impressive amount of followers.

This business move was, a royal expert has claimed, something that the Royal Family felt was “beyond parody” due to the details reportedly contained on the application. The expert – Robert Lacey, a historian and author – claimed in the Daily Mail that some of the uses they couple were hoping to trademark for weren’t entirely in line with the way the royals usually conduct themselves in regard to this kind of thing.

“There was nothing intrinsically taboo about royals selling something in order to generate funds: for decades there had been a highly successful souvenir shop at Buckingham Palace and Prince Charles’ Duchy Originals line of products were generating some £3million or so a year from a whole range of items, headed by its beloved Duchy Originals oaten digestive biscuits,” Lacey explained.

“But listed under Sussex Royal’s surprise June 2019 trademark applications were, for example, ‘social care services, namely organising and conducting emotional support groups; counselling services; emotional support services; provision of personal support services to help, care for and support persons in need . . . mentoring and personal care services.’ Duchy Digestives were one thing — but Sussex Royal personal therapy sessions? It was beyond parody.” After reports claimed the late Queen banned Harry and Meghan from using the word royal in their branding, their trademark application was withdrawn in February 2024.