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Harry and Meghan may not be able to use Sussex Royal brand

Prince Harry and Meghan may not be able to use the Sussex Royal brand when they step back from senior duties, it has emerged.

The prince and his wife announced in January their intention to achieve financial independence rather than be paid by the Crown.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 08: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive at Trooping The Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade, on June 08, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Harry and Meghan may not be allowed to use Sussex Royal. (Getty Images)

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It was thought they would use the Sussex Royal moniker they created when their household split from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, but a royal source has said this is under review.

“As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are stepping back as senior members of the Royal Family and will work towards financial independence, use of the word ‘royal’, in this context, needed to be reviewed,” the source said.

“As part of the process to transition the Duke and Duchess of Sussex into their new chapter, planning has been well underway around the launch of their new nonprofit organisation.”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 27:  Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the wheelchair basketball final during the Invictus Games at the Quay Centre on October 27, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.  (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Harry and Meghan will continue their association with the Invictus Games. (Getty Images)

The couple were given the Duchy of Sussex as a wedding present from the Queen.

Prince Harry and Meghan will step back from royal duties in the spring.

While they will keep many of their patronages, Harry will be stripped of his military honours.

Read more: The 360: Does it matter if Meghan and Harry are gone for good?

The duchess will remain a patron of the National Theatre, and the organisation’s artistic director dismissed claims of a rift with Meghan, saying he thought it would be business as usual.

Rufus Norris said the idea the bosses at the theatre were “left fuming” by the couple’s decision to step back was “a complete fiction”.

He added: “I don’t think it’s going to change anything.”

Harry and Meghan are living in Canada with their son Archie. (Getty Images)
Harry and Meghan are living in Canada with their son Archie. (Getty Images)

Harry and Meghan are currently living in Canada with their son Archie but are thought to be coming back to the UK for a number of engagements and events before the spring.

They are reported to have been asked to attend the Commonwealth Day Service in March and will have Princess Beatrice’s wedding in May to add to their diaries too.

Their Instagram account uses the name Sussex Royal, as does their website, and they had attempted to have it trademarked.