UPDATE January 26, 2020: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have apparently hit a snag in their move to trademark the name "Sussex Royal," which they are reportedly planning to use for their new charitable foundation and any possible future merchandise.
Per *Hello!,* Benjamin Worcester, a doctor in Australia, filed a "notice of threatened opposition" with the Intellectual Property Office earlier this week. (There's a period of time after a trademark is filed during which people can register formal opposition.) It is unclear at this time why Worcester opposes the trademark, but because of his claim, the period of opposition on "Sussex Royal" has been extended until at least March 20. The brand continues to appear on their Instagram at this time, though.
Stay tuned for more details as they emerge.
Original post:
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry spent a lot of the past year speaking honestly about their experiences in the public eye. They spoke candidly about how hard the media scrutiny can be, and even addressed rumors of a royal rift between Prince Harry and Prince William, insisting there isn't a feud—just two families slowly finding their own way and their independence from each other.
Now a new trademark filing reported by People shows that Sussex side of the family is further departing from the rest of the royals. According to the report, Harry and Meghan's teams have registered "Sussex Royal The Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex" with the Intellectual Property Office in an effort to start their own charity foundation.
The original filing is from July, just one day after Kensington Palace announced that Markle and Prince Harry would be veering off from The Royal Foundation, the joint charity they led alongside Kate Middleton and Prince William. The move was part of a broader separation that also included splitting up the royal household they shared. While some people suggested that household split was a sign of a feud, others pointed out that it was just logistics: Both brothers now have their own families and different royal responsibilities, and therefore need separate staff, offices, and courts for their duties.
The new trademark protects the Sussex charity and allows the couple to "take legal action" against anyone who uses the name or likeness of their brand without permission. It also covers items from clothing to posters to stationery and sportswear. But more important, it reinforces that the organization is its own entity. Already, Markle and Prince Harry have indicated that there are several areas they plan to focus on as part of their charity efforts, among them sustainability, the environment, social change, and women's rights. Middleton and Prince William, meanwhile, have stayed onboard at the Royal Foundation and recently placed a special focus on mental health awareness and advocacy efforts.
