Meghan Markle breaks her silence to defend 'talented team' behind couple's new Sussex.com site who also built her defunct lifestyle blog The Tig and Archewell
Meghan Markle has expressed gratitude towards the team at Article for their work on the Sussex.com website, despite criticisms and accusations regarding the couple's decision to relaunch their Archewell website under the "Sussex" title. The decision sparked controversy, with some accusing Meghan and Prince Harry of attempting to appear more royal.
 |
A statement issued by Meghan on the website of Article - the firm which created Sussex.com
Royal insiders have voiced concerns about the website, suggesting that it blurs the line between their past as working royals and their present status. Despite this, Meghan praised Article for their attention to detail, creativity, and thoughtful approach to design in a testimonial posted on their website.
 |
| Harry and Meghan were pictured in Whistler, Canada |
She highlighted her long-standing relationship with the team, emphasizing their ability to collaborate and elevate ideas into visual identities. Additionally, Meghan expressed her admiration for the company's Canadian roots.
Article, the Canadian agency behind the Sussex.com website, has an impressive portfolio that includes designing websites for various notable clients such as the Archewell Foundation, Archewell Productions, Meghan Markle's former lifestyle blog The Tig, and Harry's environmental tourism initiative Travalyst. Additionally, they have worked with prominent figures like the NBA, Lauryn Hill, and Diane Von Furstenberg.
 |
| Prince Harry arrives in Vancouver yesterday for the Invictus Games one-year countdown event |
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were recently seen attending countdown events for the next Invictus Games in Canada. Their arrival was marked by Harry's appearance at Vancouver International Airport, where he was spotted wearing a green coat and blue jeans after arriving on a private jet.
 |
| The pair attended the Invictus Games One Year To Go Event |
 |
The Duchess beamed as she filmed her husband with a ski instructor
Meghan also made headlines with the announcement of a new podcast deal with Lemonada Media, focusing on topics aimed at improving people's lives. This announcement coincided with the launch of their Sussex.com website, which emphasizes their commitment to shaping the future through business and philanthropy.
 |
| The Duchess of Sussex has broken her silence to defend the new Sussex.com website |
Despite sources claiming that palace officials were not consulted before the website's relaunch, it is operated under "The Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex" and serves as a central hub for all their activities. Notably, their biographies on the website do not reference their links to the Royal Family, instead focusing on their individual roles as humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate, and environmental campaigner.
 |
| Harry is pictured on the ground at Vancouver yesterday ahead of the Invictus Games events |
Sussex.com is characterized by its minimalistic design, featuring a prominent photograph of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the homepage. The website serves as a centralized platform for their various endeavors, including links to the Archewell Foundation, Archewell Productions, and the controversial sussexroyal.com website launched in 2020 following their decision to step back as working royals.
 |
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in September 2023. The photograph now appears on the home page of Sussex.com
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to utilize Sussex.com to share both personal and official updates, with a dedicated 'News' section to keep visitors informed. The 'About' page of the website emphasizes their commitment to shaping the future through business and philanthropy, highlighting their support for various initiatives, patronages, and organizations.
 |
Their 'About' page reads: 'The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex is shaping the future through business and philanthropy'
Furthermore, the website includes individual pages detailing the backgrounds and achievements of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Harry's biography references his service in the British Armed Forces and his bestselling memoir, "Spare," while Meghan's biography highlights her advocacy work, entertainment career, and bestselling children's books.
 |
| The new homepage of Sussex.com features an image of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in September 2023 |
Both biographies emphasize their shared commitment to their mission of "Show Up, Do Good," underscoring their belief that charitable work should involve more than just providing assistance but also fostering meaningful connections and support within communities.
 |
| The Duchess of Sussex's coat of arms appears on the newly launched Sussex.com website |
The Archewell Foundation, established by the Duke and Duchess, is aimed at creating meaningful initiatives and driving long-term change, while Archewell Productions, founded in 2020, is dedicated to producing thought-provoking and diverse narratives that celebrate common humanity and community.
The launch of Sussex.com has stirred controversy and raised concerns among those close to the royal household. Many perceive it as a breach of assurances made by Harry and Meghan to the late Queen when they stepped back as working royals in 2020. The website's use of their royal titles and coat of arms, coupled with its commercial implications, has been criticized as exploiting their royal status for personal gain.
 |
This is an image issued by Kensington Palace on May 25, 2018 showing the Duchess of Sussex's new coat of arms which was released at the time of her marriage to Prince Harry
 A Daily Mail graphic from 2018 showing what each aspect of Meghan's coat of arms means |
 |
| The couple's new Sussex.com website has a link at the bottom (circled by MailOnline) under the logo 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex' which directs users back to SussexRoyal.com |
Despite the criticisms, a source close to Harry and Meghan defended their use of their royal titles, emphasizing that they are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex by name and family lineage.
 |
| Meghan Markle is pictured recording her Spotify podcast which launched in August 2022 |
The timing of the website launch has also been questioned, coming shortly after revelations about King Charles III's cancer diagnosis and Princess Kate's recuperation from surgery. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams highlighted the sensitivity of the timing, suggesting that while the couple may have the right to launch the website, the timing raises eyebrows given the recent family health issues in the news.
The timing of the website launch, particularly amidst family health concerns and recent events involving King Charles' cancer diagnosis, has been criticized as insensitive and ill-timed. Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator, expressed the sentiment that, given their status as former working royals, it would have been more appropriate to delay the rebranding until a later time. He also highlighted the perception that the couple may not fully recognize the impact of their actions on public opinion.
Prince Harry's recent visit to the UK to meet with his father, King Charles, following the announcement of his diagnosis, was noted. However, there was no reported meeting between Harry and his brother, Prince William, during this visit.
Fitzwilliams further commented on the website's portrayal of the couple as shaping the future through business and philanthropy, suggesting a hope for new endeavors that do not solely rely on their royal connections for financial gain. He also pointed out the website's link back to the SussexRoyal.com domain, despite the couple being instructed to drop the "Sussex Royal" label in 2020 due to concerns raised by Queen Elizabeth II and senior officials.
The decision to continue using the "Sussex Royal" branding despite these instructions has been seen as a breach of trust with the royal family and a disregard for their directives.
 |
| Prince Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne, is described on the Sussex.com website as a 'humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate and environmental campaigner' |
 |
Meghan, whose Spotify podcast, acting career and lifestyle blog The Tig are all referenced in her biography, is hailed as a 'feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity'
In 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle began using the "Sussex Royal" branding after splitting their household from that of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, known as Kensington Royal. This branding was significant as it represented their distinct identity within the royal family.
 |
Prince Harry and Meghan at the Bob Marley: One Love film premiere in Jamaica on January 23
Meghan Markle recently made headlines by releasing a new photo of herself wearing Princess Diana's old watch to announce a podcast deal. The Duchess of Sussex expressed her excitement about joining forces with the female-founded US podcast network Lemonada Media to create a dynamic new series aimed at addressing various topics such as sex, grief, and LGBTQ issues, with the goal of making life better for listeners.
 |
Female-founded US podcast network Lemonada Media took to X to share the news of their new podcast deal with Meghan
This announcement came just hours after the launch of the couple's new website, Sussex.com. Meghan made the announcement on the website, accompanied by a new portrait photo taken by her friend Misan Harriman. In the photo, Meghan wore a Totem grey dress and a gold Cartier watch worth £17,800, which once belonged to Princess Diana. She also accessorized with a £5,000 Cartier Love bracelet, reportedly a gift from Prince Harry during the early days of their romance.
This move signifies Meghan's continued efforts to engage with various forms of media and storytelling, following the end of the couple's £18 million Spotify contract. Lemonada Media will also distribute Meghan's previous series, Archetypes, as part of their collaboration.
Meghan Markle's styling choices for the announcement included having her dark brown hair styled in large curls, reminiscent of her appearance at the 2023 Invictus Games in Dusseldorf last September. Additionally, she wore the same Totem grey dress she previously sported at the event.
Meghan's enthusiastic comments about the podcast deal hinted at potential future projects, suggesting that this collaboration with Lemonada Media was just the beginning of exciting endeavors for 2024. She expressed eagerness to share the new podcast series with her audience, indicating her ongoing commitment to engaging with various forms of media and storytelling.
This PR fluff piece has forgotten that the Late Queen, Elizabeth II ordered them not to monetize the Sussex Royal to market their brand. H&M are violating the agreement they made with the late Queen. They are using the Kings illness as cover because if they thought they could get away with it they would have done this makeover earlier being opportunists that they are. There is going to be blowback because they are disrespecting the Queens memory. British citizens are upset about this and if Harry has any desire to return to the UK, he just blew it. The distain for the 2 of them around the world is unpalatable.
ReplyDelete