Queen bans Harry and Meghan from using ‘Sussex Royal’ brand

An unexpected decision by the Queen has dealt a very significant blow to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s post-royal career plans.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly being forced to drop their “Sussex Royal” branding after receiving an order from the Queen.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have already spent thousands of dollars on launching their personal brand, including a new Sussex Royal website, in the wake of their decision to step down as working royals and forge their own career away from the monarchy in Canada.

But according to the Daily Mail, the Queen and senior officials have agreed it’s no longer appropriate for the couple to keep the word “royal” in their branding following lengthy discussions.

The Queen has decided ‘Sussex Royal’ is longer tenable. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

It’s a significant blow to Harry and Meghan, who use @SussexRoyal as the handle on their 11 million follower-strong Instagram account and are attempting to trademark the title for a range of items.

It’s understood they’re also currently in the process of setting up a new charity under the title Sussex Royal: The Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

But the Daily Mail reports that will all now need to be “rebranded” and re-registered, although the “fine detail” of the situation is still being negotiated.

It’s understood Harry and Meghan have already been told of the Queen’s decision.

RELATED: Follow updates on Meghan and Harry

The couple’s plans, pegged off ‘Sussex Royal’, were well under way. Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga/Pool/Getty Images

The pair announced in January that they were stepping down as senior royals following a tumultuous year, and departed Britain for Vancouver Island in Canada shortly afterwards.

After a historic summit at Sandringham involving the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William, Harry and senior officials, the Sussexes were granted approval to start a new life away from the royals.

But it wasn’t without strict guidelines. In a statement, the Queen explained that they would be allowed to keep their Duke and Duchess titles, but would no longer use their HRH status.

Harry was also stripped of his military titles and patronages, and the couple was ordered to repay the $4.5 million in refurbishments charged to the British taxpayers for their Frogmore Cottage home.

While Harry and Meghan initially declared they would divide their time between Britain and North America, it became obvious last week that that was unlikely to still be the case after their decision to axe their entire 15-person UK team of employees.

They’ve also now also closed their official Buckingham Palace office.

Before leaving England for good, Harry gave an astonishingly candid speech at a charity dinner in Mayfair, declaring that their decision to break away from royal duties was made because there was “no other option”.

In another telling moment, Harry also admitted that the final deal wasn’t the outcome they had wanted and that it brought him “great sadness” that “it has come to this”.

“What I want to make clear is we’re not walking away … Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the commonwealth, and my military associations but without public funding. Unfortunately, this wasn’t possible,” he explained.

The model the couple had initially advocated for was a sort of “part-time” royal status, where they could retain many of the perks (i.e. Frogmore Cottage, their around-the-clock security) while also being able to ink commercial deals and live abroad.

The couple’s original Megxit plan was largely rejected by the Queen. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

She granted them approval to leave, but with strict conditions. Picture: Lindsey Parnaby/AFP

Late last week, Harry and Meghan were pictured together for the first time since Megxit as they returned to Canada on a commercial jet following a business trip to the US.

During their time in America, Harry gave a keynote speech at a JP Morgan summit in Miami and was rumoured to have been paid more than $1 million.

The couple reportedly stayed at Serena Williams’ home in Palm Beach during their trip before heading to Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.

In California, they are said to have attended “brainstorming sessions” with “professors and academics” as they continue to work on their new charitable organisation.

And they’ll soon be jetting off again — it’s understood the Queen has called the pair back from their glamorous new life to attend a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey next month.

It will be their first joint royal engagement since quitting their roles.