Joshua Sammer/Getty Images |
It's been a whirlwind few days for the Sussex family over in the United States. Let's start with the biggest move: their brand-new website that launched this week. In an unexpected move, a sleek new "Sussex.com" landing page quietly went live late Monday, with a redirect in place from their previous Archewell website. Archewell
-- named from the Greek word "Arche," meaning "source of action" and inspired by their son, Prince Archie -- is the charitable foundation they established after stepping away from frontline royal duties, replacing their former Sussex Royal brand. Visitors are welcomed with the text "The office of Prince Harry & Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex" overlaid on an image of the couple at the Invictus Games closing ceremony in Dusseldorf, Germany, last year.
An "About" page explains their goal of "shaping the future through business and philanthropy" and highlights doing so through their Archewell Foundation, its production arm and other "patronages, ventures and organizations" supported by the pair. The new site also features individual biographies and a "Latest News" page.
Prince Harry is described as "a humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate, and environmental campaigner" who has dedicated himself to "advancing causes that he is passionate about and that advance permanent change for people and places." Meghan's page emphasizes her years-long work for women and girls and her "hopes to be a cultural catalyst for positive change."
However, the design decision to use their royal titles and Meghan's coat of arms -- which was created in 2018 and signed off by the late Queen Elizabeth II -- has sparked a backlash against the couple over here in Britain. Critics say the website suggests they want to monetize their royal links, which goes against the agreement made with Buckingham Palace in 2020.
Back then, months of crunch talks over their exit culminated in a deal that saw the couple cease using the title of "Royal Highness." The pair also dropped the word "royal" from their branding and stated that they wouldn't use it with any future projects as they sought to secure financial independence.
David Haigh, founder and CEO of London-based Brand Finance, said the new website "tells us that they intend to trade commercially on their position as Duke and Duchess of Sussex which is against Royal Protocol and the wishes of the Royal Family. It's a cynical use of the very institution they claim is cruel, old fashioned and racist."
He said the rebranding signals that the couple want to use "their position to make money even though they claim to want to distance themselves from all that colonial claptrap."
But supporters say the website makes no explicit mention of the monarchy or their time as working royals. They argue that Sussex is their name, that the title was never revoked, and the prominent royal crest was gifted to Meghan when she wed Harry and so she should be allowed to do whatever she wants with it.
The website revamp also sparked a renewed conversation around their children. A source told the London Times that Harry and Meghan have been using Sussex as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's surname since the King's coronation. It was touted this week as a major change as technically the family name is Mountbatten-Windsor. However, the pair have been listed on the royal family's official website as Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex for some time now.
It's also worth noting that adopting a parent's title as a child's informal surname has been a common practice by members of the royal family for some time. Prince William's three children are officially known as Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales but at school go more simply by George Wales, Charlotte Wales and Louis Wales. Previously, William and Harry used "Wales" during their years in the military, while Prince Andrew's daughters used "York" in reference to their father's title as Duke of York when they were growing up.
The Sussexes appear to have responded to the latest round of criticisms. A representative for the couple told British newspaper The Mirror: "We've heard time and time again that certain opportunities are make or break for the couple. They're still here. They're still working and pursuing what they believe in, despite constantly being challenged and criticised. This couple will not be broken."
Buckingham Palace has not responded officially to any of the debates in the press and on social media over the past week, but it's unlikely to further stoke any public row. While the rebranded website has provoked discussion, it seems more of a move by the Sussexes to unify their projects than a bid to cause further animosity, particularly when the King is undergoing cancer treatment. |
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Watch: 'This is how they view their future'
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Max sat down with his co-anchor Bianca Nobilo to discuss the website redesign. Take a look: |
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Prince Harry opens up about father's cancer diagnosis. |
The duke has said King Charles' cancer diagnosis could help mend fences within his family in a new interview with ABC's Good Morning America.
Reflecting on his recent dash back to the UK, he said, "I love my family. And the fact that I was able to get on a plane and go to see him and spend any time with him -- I'm grateful for that." When asked if the cancer diagnosis could have a "galvanizing" or "reunifying" effect on the family, Prince Harry replied: "Yeah, I'm sure ... Any illness, any sickness, brings families together." |
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Prince William will be out and about on Sunday. |
It was confirmed on Friday morning that Prince William will be going to the EE British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards on Sunday. The Prince of Wales, who made a partial return to royal duties on February 7 as his wife continues to recuperate after surgery, has been the organization's president since 2010. Max will be on the red carpet for all the action so watch this space! |
Odd Anderson/AFP via Getty Images |
King briefly returns to London as Queen Camilla keeps calm and carries on. |
Accompanied by his wife, Charles III flew back to the British capital on Tuesday from Sandringham, the royal country estate where he's been convalescing in between his cancer treatments. The royal couple traveled by helicopter, landing at Buckingham Palace and making the short journey to Clarence House by car. A day later, the King returned to Sandringham alone while Camilla remained in London for a series of engagements. On Thursday, she hosted a reception at her London residence in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Poppy Factory, a non-profit founded to support veterans after World War I. She met with employees, veterans and family members before viewing an exhibition of poppies and wreaths curated to illustrate the evolution of the flower as a symbol of remembrance. Camilla has continued to undertake a busy diary of royal engagements as her husband undergoes treatment and steps back from public-facing duties. She said Charles was "doing extremely well under the circumstances" during a visit to Salisbury Cathedral last week.
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Isabel Infantes/Pool/AFP via Getty Images |
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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex gets stuck while joining competitors training for his Invictus Games. The global sporting event is set to be held in Canada next year and to mark one year until the event he and Meghan met athletes at a training camp in Whistler, British Columbia, on Wednesday. |
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Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Project Healthy Minds
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There's been a swirl of Sussex news over the past few days. It was also revealed earlier this week that Meghan had inked a new podcast deal with Lemonada Media to record new shows. In a statement, the duchess said she was "proud" to work with the network and that to "support a female founded company with a roster of thought provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a fantastic way to kick off 2024." She said a "dynamic new podcast" was in development and that she was "so eager to share it soon."
The company will also distribute her previous Spotify "Archetypes" series to all podcast platforms. "Archetypes" aimed to "investigate, dissect and subvert the labels that try to hold women back," according to its description, and featured Meghan's interviews with celebrity guests including Serena Williams, Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton and Trevor Noah. The Sussexes' previous multi-year deal with Spotify came to an end in June.
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"I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days."
– King Charles III
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The monarch expressed gratitude to the public and praised all organizations which support cancer patients in his first public comments since his diagnosis on Saturday. He broke cover
for his first public outing a day later, waving to onlookers as he made his way to church in Sandringham. |
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