Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have reportedly been told they can no longer use the Sussex Royal brand after their decision to step back from the royal family. On today’s instalment of Loose Women, host Andrea McLean and the panel discussed whether they agreed with the Queen’s decision which led to an innovative suggestion from Janet Street-Porter.
Andrea introduced: “It has been reported that the Queen has decided to ban Prince Harry and Meghan from using their lucrative Sussex Royal brand.
“The couple had applied to trademark the term and currently use it on their website and social media.
“But after they stepped down as working royals Her Majesty has told them they must drop the word royal.”
“I don’t think you can have it every way,” Gloria Hunniford began. “They made the decision to leave the royal duties behind and go live in Canada.
“I didn’t like the way they presented all of that to the Queen anyway when the horse had bolted, as it were.”
“Here’s another example where they’ve just gone ahead allegedly having spent tens of thousands of dollars in this case.”
She continued: “You just can’t use the royal tag unless the Queen’s permission and she’s the only one who can do that.
“The only weakness I can think of the fact is Harry is a royal so there’s a bit of debate going on there, personally I think it’s right.”
Janet shared: “Tyson Fury’s son Prince, Kourtney Kardashian’s son Reign, Katie Price and Peter Andre’s daughter Princess.
“Michael Jackson’s son Prince and of course Stacey [Solomon] has called her son Rex, which means king.
“So cheapskate solution for the Sussexes, call your son Royal and it’s all sorted.”
“But actually trademarking your name isn’t anything new,” Janet explained.
“They might have trademarked their name to prevent other people capitalising on it.”
“I think it’s gone beyond that though,” Gloria interjected.
“It’s one thing to trademark your name, it’s another thing to spend tens of thousands on all the products you’re going to have and the commercial side of it.”
“You know the thing is in my mind they wanted it in every way,” she concluded. “They made that choice to go and be in Canada but you can’t be half in and half out.”
Loose Women airs weekdays on ITV at 12.30pm.
