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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Josh Salisbury

Harry and Meghan hit back as they face criticism after launching new Sussex.com website

Prince Harry and Meghan have launched a new website using their Sussex title in a move which could prompt a fresh row with the Royal Family.

Their rebrand from the Archewell website, Sussex.com, appears to emphasise their royal status, with a royal coat of arms, and the message: “The office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”

A picture of the couple smiling at last year’s Invictus Games also greets visitors to the site.

A source told the Daily Mail the use of the royal crest and Sussex titles could spark complaints from the Royal Family.

However, a source close to Harry and Meghan said: “Prince Harry and Meghan are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. That is a fact. It is their surname and family name.”

A biography for Prince Harry on the page doesn’t mention the Royal Family, instead describing Harry as ‘‘a humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate, and environmental campaigner’’.

A screengrab of the Sussex.com website (Sussex.com)

“The Duke is the New York Times Bestselling author of Spare, a memoir of his life told with compassion, vulnerability, and unflinching honesty,” it states.

“Spare was the publishing industry’s fastest selling non-fiction book, selling more than 1.4 million copies on its first day of publication.”

Meanwhile, Meghan is described as “one of the most influential women in the world” and a “feminist and champion of human rights”.

“She is a NY Times Best Selling author, publishing the acclaimed children’s book, ‘The Bench’, and ‘Together: Our Community Kitchen’ a collaborative publication with the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen in the UK, who were displaced after the tragic Grenfell Fire,” it states.

The new website links to the couple’s non-profit organisation, the Archewell Foundation, and production company, Archewell Productions.

The name ‘Archewell’ had replaced the couple’s ‘Sussex Royal’ brand after the late Queen Elizabeth banned the couple from using it when they stepped away from royal duty four years ago.

Royal expert Angela Levin said it was “pathetic” the couple were using the royal coat of arms.

She told The Sun newspaper: "They are cashing in on their royal connections that they say they hate so much.

"Queen Elizabeth II would be furious because they promised they wouldn't do that.

"They should be stopped from using a title that they spent years insulting."

Under the terms of an agreement struck with the Palace, Harry and Meghan can use Duke and Duchess titles but cannot use HRH in their commercial endeavours.

It comes after Prince Harry flew to the UK last week to meet with the King following his cancer diagnosis.

He saw King Charles but did not meet with his brother, the Prince of Wales.

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