Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have stirred controversy with the launch of their revamped brand and website earlier this week, utilizing their children's names, Archie and Lilibet, in what some consider an exploitative manner.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex unveiled Sussex.com, reigniting debates over their relationship with the royal family and whether they obtained proper approval for the move.
Their rebranding comes four years after stepping down from their senior royal roles in 2020 in pursuit of "financial freedom," pledging to uphold the values of Her Majesty.
Buckingham Palace has remained silent on the matter, with reports from The Mirror indicating that Harry and Meghan did not seek consent for the rebrand.
Royal historian Hugo Vickers expressed concerns, stating, "It goes against everything the Sussexes promised they would not do." He criticized the couple for leveraging their royal titles and associations, including those of their children, Archie and Princess Lilibet, who received their titles after King Charles ascended the throne.
Vickers emphasized, "From the use of the royal coat of arms to their Sussex titles and their children's titles, the man on the street would perceive those behind the website as part of the royal family. It is exploitative in the extreme."
