Prince Harry African orphan charity hits new obstacle in trademark application

A charity Prince Harry set up for orphaned African children has encountered a major setback, as he visits London to celebrate an Invictus Games milestone.

The Duke of Sussex has been dealt a blow with the charity he set up in America for orphaned African children encountering trademark difficulties.

The charity, Sentebale, was set up in 2006 and is one of several organisations established or supported by Prince Harry.

One of his most prominent is Invictus Games, which celebrates a major milestone this week.

The US Patent and Trademark Office has ruled that many of the categories for Sentebale were “too vague” to be trademarked.

Prince Harry’s trademark application for his orphan charity Sentebale was rejected. Picture: Getty Images

Prince Harry's application was rejected with many of the services, including “mental healthcare services” and “psychological and mental health counselling services”, and “production of audio and video recordings”, considered “too vague” and not sufficiently defined.

The Duke must re-apply within six months, with the US Patent and Trademark Office ruling: “An application must specify, in an explicit manner, the particular goods and services on or in connection with which the applicant uses, or has a bona fide intention to use, the [trade] mark in commerce”, reports the Daily Mail.

‘TOO ROYAL’: PRINCE HARRY’S INVICTUS GAMES ROLE SLAMMED

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s involvement in the Invictus Games has been criticised for being “too royal”.

Veterans have recently expressed concerns that the event for wounded veterans, which Prince Harry co-founded, have “lost their meaning” and become too glitzy due to Meghan’s involvement, The Express reports.

Meghan Markle plays a prominent role in the Invictus Games. Picture: Getty Images

Royal expert Angela Levin told GB News that the games, once considered one of Prince Harry’s “great achievements” had become “imperilled”.

In discussion with Ms Levin, GB news host Mark Dolan said: “About 2,000 ex-military have left the games, as they say it’s lost its original meaning.

“There are some former veterans who would like Harry to step down.”

The Sussexes at the 2023 Invictus Games in Germany. Picture: Getty Images

Levin responded: “It’s become much too royal. Meghan makes the speeches, she actually led a march where some of the ex-military people were either physically, emotionally or psychologically damaged, or all of it, during the fighting.

“They were very upset about this, because she knows nothing about how to march. And I think they don’t want that.”

Meghan Markle’s involvement in the Invictus Games has caused controversy. Picture: Getty Images

Ms Levin said Prince Harry was “brilliant” at interacting with the veterans but that Meghan had taken over.

“Now it’s all about Meghan mainly and Harry follows behind, and I don’t think people want that.”

It comes as it emerged that Prince Harry will likely be “forced to stay in a hotel” when he visits the UK next month after his previous request to stay at Windsor Castle was rejected.

No other senior royals are expected to be attending the Invictus Games tenth anniversary service at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8.

HARRY’S FURY OVER ROYAL’S NEW CHARITY ROLE

Prince Harry is “furious” that another member of the royal family has been handed a top position within his Invictus Games charity, a royal expert has claimed.

The Duke of Sussex is said to be “furious” that Mike Tindall has allegedly been “given a high position” at the games, which were founded by Prince Harry in 2014 as a way to offer wounded veterans a competition similar to those in the Paralympics.

Former England rugby player Tindall is married to Zara, the King’s niece and the daughter of Princess Anne.

Zara and Mike Tindall at the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast. Picture: Luke Marsden

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told GB News the games had become “too royal” because of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

“Mike Tindall, who is the husband of Zara, the King’s niece, has been given a high position to do something about the Invictus Games,” he said.

“I think Harry is absolutely furious about this. It has been announced, but very quietly.”

Mr Fitzwilliams said some found Meghan’s appearance at the event to be grating.

He told GB News: “Some people say they want Harry because he’s the beginning of the whole Invictus Games, and other people say that it would be delightful that they don’t do all this nonsense and they don’t want Meghan making speeches. They don’t want her leading marches.”

The report comes after claims of bad blood between Prince Harry and Tindall, who allegedly described the royal as “a b******” in comments to fellow party goers after the Platinum Jubilee concert in 2022.

HARRY’S CHARITY ROLE UP IN AIR OVER TORTURE CLAIMS

It comes as the Duke of Sussex faces pressure to step down from the board of directors of African wildlife charity African Parks, amid an investigation of claims of rape and torture by its guards.

The guards in the non profit charity in the Republic of Congo have been accused of running an armed militia that beats, rapes and tortures indigenous people of forests it was set up to protect, according to reports first published in the Mail On Sunday.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have revealed they will tour Nigeria after being invited by the country’s chief of defence staff to take part in “cultural activities”.

The charity, which manages 22 national parks and protected areas in 12 countries, said the investigation was its “highest priority” and urged anyone with evidence of any abuse to come forward.

Witness accounts of the alleged brutality are highlighted in a book Entrepreneurs in the Wild by Olivier van Beemen who conducted a three-year investigation into the organisation, paid for by British aid, celebrities and American donors.

Prince Harry could face pressure to step down from the board of directors of African wildlife charity African Parks, amid an investigation of claims of rape and torture by its guards. Picture: Don MacKinnon / AFP

Prince Harry was contacted by London based human rights organisation Survival International in May 2023 when he was president, to inform him of concerns that the Baka people were being abused by the charity’s armed guards, prompting him to escalate the complaints to board and chief executive, Peter Fearnhead.

A statement from Mr Fearnhead said African Parks did not tolerate abuse and accused Survival International of failing to help with its inquiry.

“We are aware of the serious allegations regarding human rights abuses by [staff] against local people living adjacent to Odzala-Kokoua national park in the Republic of Congo, which have recently received media attention,” the statement read.

“We immediately launched an investigation through an external law firm based on the information we had available, while also urging Survival International to provide any and all facts they had. It’s unfortunate that they have chosen not to co-operate, despite repeated requests, and we continue to ask for their assistance.

“We encourage anyone with knowledge of any abuses to report them to us or to the Congolese law enforcement authorities, which will assist with the investigation and ensure that the perpetrators of any abuses are brought to justice,” it added.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed Meghan will join her husband for the Nigerian trip, which is set to kick off just days after Harry returns to London for the Invictus Games 10th anniversary service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

The Sussexes will meet Nigerian service members and their families activities during their stay.

Meghan is expected to bypass the UK visit and meet her husband in West Africa.

Defence Headquarters was “honoured” and “delighted” at the news of their trip, local media said.

It comes after Prince Harry was told the King will not have time to see him during his London visit.

Prince William, Prince Harry, and King Charles during the Invictus Games on September 11, 2014 in London. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The Duke of Sussex will travel from LA to the UK without Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to give a reading at the service on May 8, when actor Damian Lewis will recite the poem Invictus.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said the King was “open to reconciliation” with his youngest son but that it would take a long time before any “trust can be restored”.

“Prince Harry and his father are trying to reconcile but there are no plans for them to meet face-to-face this time, the King has got engagements in the diary and there is still a lot of work to be done between father and son before any trust can be restored,” said royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams.

“The King is open to reconciliation but not to Harry being a part-time working royal.

“There is absolutely no way the King will allow Harry to return to royal duty.

“As for William, the two brothers will not meet, no reunion will happen, certainly not at this moment in time.

“There’s too much water under the bridge and William’s priority is Kate and the family right now,” he said.

A spokesman for the Invictus Games confirmed the Duke’s attendance on May 8.

The Duke recently lost an appeal in the High Court over his personal security arrangements which leaves him with no automatic right to use royal security services.

Since he relinquished his role as a working royal to live in California, Harry has lost access to his British marital home, Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, and must now seek permission to stay at a royal residence or find his own accommodation at his own cost at a hotel when he visits.

A visit to Princess Catherine from Prince Harry “could add to her stress” according to royal expert Hugo Vickers. Picture: Supplied

Since Princess Catherine’s cancer diagnosis in March, which prompted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to message the Wales’s, hopes were raised that their protracted rift could be mended.

Biographer and historian Hugo Vickers believes a visit to the Wales’s would only add to the Princess’s woes saying, “People ask if Prince Harry is going to come back and help them out, but I think that would be very counter-productive and could add to her stress”.

The royal family’s relations have been strained since Harry wrote his tell-all memoir, Spare branding his father aloof for not hugging him when his mother Princess Diana was killed in a car crash.

Harry flew to the UK shortly after King Charles announced he was battling cancer in February, and he spent about 45 minutes with his father who had just started treatment.

The exiled Duke also fell out with his brother Prince William, accusing him of not doing enough to integrate his then fiancee Meghan Markle into The Firm in September 2018.

In March, Princess Catherine announced she was undergoing preventive treatment for cancer after abdominal surgery and has since taken a temporary step back from royal duties. She is not expected to return to work until she feels able and well enough in the British summertime.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

Next week’s Invictus Games service of thanksgiving will mark a decade of the Invictus Games Foundation, and is being billed as “a decade of changing lives and saving lives through sport”.

Guests will include sportsmen and women from the 13 participating nations, wounded, injured and sick servicemen and support staff.

Earlier this year, the Duke and Duchess trumpeted the new winter version of the games in Whistler, Canada at a glittering launch event

Last year the tournament was hosted in Dusseldorf, Germany where the Duchess told crowds “We’re going to be cheering for you and we can’t wait to one day be able to bring our kids also so they can experience just how amazing this is.”

Birmingham has thrown its hat into the ring to become the next host city.

It comes as King Charles was seen out and about for the first time since the major update on his health and return to public duties.

Originally published as Prince Harry African orphan charity hits new obstacle in trademark application