MEG SPEAKS
Meghan Markle fawns over new website’s design despite furious backlash over her and Harry using royal titles
The couple have been blasted over the use of a royal coat of arms as their crest
MEGHAN Markle has broken her silence amid backlash over new website Sussex.com and "hypocritical" use of royal titles.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex faced fierce criticism after the rebrand of their Archewell website and have even been dubbed "pathetic" by royal experts.
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It was designed by Article, a Canadian digital agency that Meghan previously used to build her lifestyle blog The Tig and Archewell.
In a fresh statement, the duchess wrote: "There is a reason I have worked with Ryan and the talented team at Article for a decade: their attention to detail, their creativity and care, and the thoughtful approach to design as well as to the user experience.
"They’re not just designers; they are collaborators who elevate your ideas into visual identities.
"They’re a very special company. Plus they’re Canadian, so I’m a fan.”
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It comes after Harry and Meghan's Archewell site underwent a major rebrand - redirecting visitors to Sussex.com.
While the couple ditched their website, their foundation in the same name is still in effect.
The Sussex.com website boasts The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan will share "personal updates for the couple" that are not related to Archewell, sources say.
It is also said to be a "one-stop-shop" for their activities.
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Their fresh move to rebrand as Sussex.com comes after the Queen banned the couple from using 'SussexRoyal' after they stepped away from royal duty four years ago.
The Queen ordered the Sussexes to mothball it in the January 2020 exit settlement, when Meghan and Harry stopped being senior members of the royal family.
MEGXIT TERMS
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced on January 8, 2020, they would be stepping down as 'senior' members of the Royal Family.
On January 18 it was announced that Harry and Meghan would “no longer be working members of Britain’s Royal Family”, and would not use their “Royal Highness” titles.
A Palace spokeswoman said the couple would no longer receive public money and that they would repay the £2.4million cost of refurbishing their cottage — Frogmore — in Windsor, Berks.
The following day, Harry said in a heartfelt speech: “Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.”
The Duke of Sussex said he had found the “love and happiness I had hoped for all my life” with Meghan.
But the new site still links back to the Sussex Royal website.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams blasted the couple for using a royal coat of arms as their crest.
“They have every right to use the coat of arms, but this involves using loopholes to effectively bring back SussexRoyal and exploit their royal status," he said.
“They have caused the family tremendous amounts of damage.
“The only way they made money was by using their royal links on their Netflix docuseries and Harry’s book Spare. Since Charles was diagnosed with cancer they cannot attack the Royal Family.
“But if this is the best they can do, who’s giving them advice? It’s rather boring. It’s quite puzzling.”
Harry has also faced claims the crest is out of date.
When Charles took the throne 17 months ago, Harry became the son of the monarch rather than grandson.
Couple to come 'under fire' over royal crest
By Matt Wilkinson
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry are set to come under fire for using their royal coat of arms in their US-based rebrand.
The Duchess of Sussex worked closely with the College of Arms in London to create the design, Kensington Palace said at the time it was first revealed after their royal wedding in May 2018.
The crest - which harks back to their royal life despite walking away to live in the USA - has a blue shield representing the Pacific Ocean and rays symbolising sunshine of California
The lion relates to the Duke of Sussex and a songbird supporting represents Meghan.
Beneath the shield is California's state flower the golden poppy and Wintersweet and was also depicted on the duchess' wedding veil.
The three quills illustrate the power of words and communication.
The royal crest has barely been used by the couple before.
And a royal expert tonight slammed the Sussexes for "cashing in" on the crest.
Angela Levin told The Sun: "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
"They left the Royal Family because they didn't want anything to do with it but now realise they can use Sussex rather than Archewell.
"Four years after they left they are trying to be royal and also setting up the 'Office' of Prince Harry and Meghan, it is so hypocritical.
"It is pathetic, they couldn't use SussexRoyal so they have found a way round it.
Yet the crest’s coronet features five points for grandson, rather than three for son.
This is the first rebrand the couple have undergone since they launched Archewell in October 2020.
Visitors to that site see a notice that reads: "This site was established in 2020 and sets out the work streams of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex prior to their move to the United States."
'CASHING IN'
Royal expert Angela Levin dubbed the couple "pathetic" for using the royal coat of arms on their new website.
She told The Sun: "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."
There are even talks it may be shut down, as it is thought the rebrand will anger the firm, sources have said.
An insider told the : “They are going to have real trouble with the use of Sussex.
“It is a royal title and if there is any hint of commercialism about this it will be shut down.
"It's just staggering they cannot see how gauche it is.”
But, a source close to the couple has now defended the move.
They said: “Prince Harry and Meghan are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. That is a fact. It is their surname and family name.”
ROYAL REBRAND
In September last year, it was revealed the couple were planning to launch new projects.
On Sussex.com, biographies on Harry and Meghan include the line: "The Duke and Duchess are committed to their mission: Show Up, Do Good.
";They hold the value that charitable work should not simply be a handout, but rather a hand held."
The site also reads: "The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex is shaping the future through business and philanthropy.
"This includes: The Archewell Foundation, Archwell Productions, patronages, ventures, and organizations which receive the support of the couple, individually and/or together."
Prince Harry's bio describes him as "a humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate, and environmental campaigner".
It reads: "He has dedicated his adult life to advancing causes that he is passionate about and that advance permanent change for people and places."
The site also describes his time in the Army, names the organisations he's founded, and that he's a New York Times Bestselling author after writing Spare.
Meghan's bio says she's "a feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity".
The website says: "Her lifelong advocacy for women and girls remains a constant thread in her humanitarian and business ventures."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
It goes on to say she "has been named one of the most influential women in the world", had a leading role in show Suits and has served in roles like the UN Women’s Advocate for Women’s Political Participation.
It comes as the couple are set to appear in Vancouver this week to mark 12 months before Harry's Invictus Games 2025.
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