Expert claims key move Harry and Meghan made angered royals (Image: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
When Prince Harry and Meghan decided to step back as working royals and instead find financial independence, shockwaves were felt across the UK – with most of the public having little to no idea how much the couple were struggling behind closed doors to manage the bright spotlight that comes with royal status.
Back in 2020 when they made their bombshell announcement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex initially hoped they wouldn’t have to make a full break from representing the monarchy, and instead hoped that they could split their time between “the UK and North America” – and still maintain their royal patronages. The decision came after the couple had enjoyed a six-week break in Canada over the festive season and it was reported at the time that Buckingham Palace had been taken by surprise by the couple’s announcement.
The couple have disputed they blindsided the other senior royals with their announcement, with Harry calling the idea “hogwash” in his memoir Spare. However, one move they before they made their royal exit was seen as pretty controversial to the rest of the Royal Family, an expert has claimed, and was even deemed by some as an “act of impertinence” – attempting to trademark the ‘Sussex Royal’ brand they had used whilst working as official – and publicly funded – representatives of the monarchy.
The expert – author and historian Robert Lacey – has claimed, “When Harry and Meghan decided to trademark Sussex Royal products without asking the Queen’s permission, the extent of royal fury at Sussex impertinence rose to even higher levels. ‘Hopping’ was a mild description of how mad the family was.”
The expert added that it wasn’t entirely without precedent, however, to do something like this and that Charles had also done something similar. “There was nothing intrinsically taboo about royals selling something in order to generate funds: for decades there had been a highly successful souvenir shop at Buckingham Palace and Prince Charles’ Duchy Originals line of products were generating some £3 million or so a year from a whole range of items, headed by its beloved Duchy Originals oaten digestive biscuits,” the author wrote. However, “The starting of any commercial activities by a member of the Royal Family requires liaison with Buckingham Palace and depends, ultimately, on the approval of the Queen herself,” Lacey claimed.
