Prince Harry and Meghan have adopted the title Sussex as the surname for their children as they “unify” their family, it was reported last night.
Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two, have been known as Archie Sussex and Lilibet Sussex, rather than Mountbatten-Windsor, since King Charles’ coronation last May, a source told The Times.
The revelation comes amid an ongoing dispute over the Duke and Duchess’ rebranded “royal” website, Sussex.com, complete with Meghan’s coat of arms, which critics claim is a breach of its promise to the late Queen when they bitterly abandoned the royal front line. homework.
Sources told the Times that the relaunch is an attempt to unite the projects of Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, and their children, under the same overarching website.
The use of Sussex is thought to be in line with how Harry was known as Captain Wales while in the army.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in September 2023. The photo now appears on the home page of sussex.com
Archewell, the site that brings together their philanthropic and commercial work, combines the Greek word ‘Arche’ and ‘well’ and is named after the couple’s eldest son.
Prince Harry has repeatedly complained about his childhood and being treated as a “deputy for the heir”, his brother Prince William, including in his controversial memoir, Spare.
The Sussexes are said to be determined not to replicate Harry’s apparent experiences raising Lilibet.
A source told The Times: ‘The reality behind the new site is very simple: it is a hub for the work the Sussexes do and reflects the fact that the family has, since the King’s coronation, the same surname for the first time. . That’s a big problem for any family. “It represents their unification and is a moment of pride.”
A representative for the Duke and Duchess has been contacted for comment.
But a source close to the couple previously defended the use of their royal titles on their new websites, saying: “Prince Harry and Meghan are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.” That is a fact. It’s his last name and last name.
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured) with their son Archie and daughter Lilibet
On Monday, Archewell’s website, the site that brings together his philanthropic and business work, was replaced with ‘sussex.com’ and a new home page titled ‘The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex ‘.
Yesterday, a glowing testimonial emerged from Meghan about the Canadian agency behind her rebrand.
In a statement on Article, the agency that created Meghan’s new lifestyle blog, The Tig, along with the couple’s website Archewell and now Sussex.com, the duchess said: “There is a reason why 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 both design and user experience.
‘They are not just designers; They are collaborators who elevate their ideas to visual identities. They are a very special company. Plus, they’re Canadian, so I’m a fan.
Meghan lived in Toronto during the time she filmed the television legal drama Suits, in which she appeared in seven series in 2011. Harry and Meghan also made their first public appearance as a couple at the Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017.
Prince Harry and Meghan after a boat trip during the Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023
They also have close ties to Canada, having previously stayed at the luxurious Mille Fleurs mansion on Vancouver Island after leaving royal life before moving to California when the Covid pandemic hit.
The furor over the website was followed by the publication of a new photograph of herself wearing Princess Diana’s Cartier watch while presenting a new podcast deal with Lemonada Media.
The portrait photo was taken by the couple’s friend Misan Harriman and shows Meghan wearing her late mother-in-law’s £17,800 gold watch, along with a £5,000 Cartier Love bracelet, a gift from Harry in the early days of their relationship. .
The Sussexes flew to Canada yesterday on a private jet to promote next year’s Invictus Games.
They landed in Vancouver for three days of events tied to the pageant founded by the Prince in 2014 to help wounded veterans and serving military personnel.
A winter edition of the Invictus Games will begin next February in Whistler and Vancouver, featuring more than 500 competitors from 20 countries, with the addition of wheelchair curling, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and Skeleton.
The pair were due to spend two days meeting competitors in Whistler at a training camp before Harry spoke in Vancouver tomorrow (Friday).
Last week, Harry made a quick visit to London to see his father following his cancer diagnosis, and had a 45-minute meeting with the King at Clarence House before flying home to Los Angeles 26 hours later.