Prince Harry, Meghan Markle face backlash over rebranding attempt, website launch

Despite their decision to remove themselves from the royal orbit back in 2020 in order to move to North America, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle now appear interested in taking back at least some of their previous regal trappings, as evidenced by the launch of a new website, Sussex.com, as the Daily Mail explains.

However, the attempt at a thorough re-branding in the wake of several high-profile controversies has been met with serious criticism, including from those who believe the duo has now breached an agreement reached with the late Queen Elizabeth II.

According to the New York Post, Harry and Meghan this week launched Sussex.com, where newly refreshed biographies of the husband and wife can be found together with information and links to their past and present charitable endeavors and media projects.

Notably, the new site can also be reached by visitors to SussexRoyal.com, the pair's earlier website launched back in 2020, which sparked a great deal of controversy of its own in the wake of their apparent rift with the rest of the royal family.

Those who visit the old, yet still active SussexRoyal URL will now see a pop-up message that sends them along to the new site, which is described as originating from “the office of Prince Harry & Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex” and features their combined coat of arms.

The new online presence has already drawn significant criticism from commentators who have described its links to the former SussexRoyal domain as “extremely strange” as well as an “aberration,” as the Mail reported separately.

Once they stepped down as senior working royals, Harry and Meghan were reportedly instructed by Queen Elizabeth to cease use of the “Sussex Royal” name, but as is evidenced by recent events, the site bearing that moniker is very much alive and well and is now used to link to the pair's latest public relations initiative.

Richard Fitzwilliams, a well-known royal commentator, said that “it makes no sense to include a name they can't use.”

Noted branding guru Nick Ede said that the situation “creates a blurred line between the past and the present which may cause confusion,” but seemed to indicate the pair's desire to capitalize on their former functions as working royals, however short-lived they were.

Fitzwilliam further suggested that the duo's decision to embark on this campaign now may be viewed by some as insensitive, given King Charles' recent cancer diagnosis, saying, “it would surely be more sensitive and sensible to leave their rebrand until later in the year.”

Despite intense criticism over the website's content and linkage to SussexRoyal, as well as to Harry and Meghan's stated decision to change their children's surnames to Sussex in an apparent quest to hold onto the royal connection they previously appeared to shun and denigrate, the couple has issued a sharp riposte to the naysayers.

A representative for the duke and duchess reportedly hit back at claims that this week's moves were little more than a desperate attempt to reclaim the status and prestige lost from a failed deal with Spotify, a controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey, and a host of other poorly received forays into the limelight.

The source reportedly said, “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 criticized. This couple will not be broken.”

Whether the public at large will be swayed by Harry and Meghan's bid to win back the hearts and minds of those who have been wholly unimpressed by their hostility toward the royal institution from which they still seem to want to profit, only time will tell.