A source close to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has hit back after the couple launched a new website that uses their Sussex title and royal crest. The Duke and Duchess found themselves at the centre of a row after being accused of using their title and crest for what appeared to be commercial purposes after replacing their Archewell webpage with a site called Sussex.com. The launch of the ‘gauche’ new website, which went live yesterday evening, fuelled speculation that they are trying to reinvigorate their media careers. But a source close to the couple brushed off the claims and defended the use of their royal titles.

They said: ‘Prince Harry and Meghan are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. That is a fact. It is their surname and family name.’ There appeared to be no mention of the the phrase ‘serving the monarchy’ – which was prominent on their previous website SussexRoyal.com, launched in 2020. Meanwhile, others warned that the webpage, which includes biographies about the pair and lists their recent activities, could provoke complaints from the Palace. One source said: ‘They are going to have real trouble with the use of Sussex. It is a royal title and if there is any hint of commercialism about this it will be shut down. It’s just staggering they cannot see how gauche it is.’

In addition to Sussex.com and SussexRoyal.com, the couple also have websites for Archewell Productions (archewellproductions.com) and Archewell Foundation (archewell.org). The former Archewell.com website now redirects to Sussex.com. The new homepage for ‘The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ went live yesterday evening. It features glowing biographies for both Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, as well as the latest news about the pair.

The Duke is described as a ‘humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate and environmental campaigner’. His wife Meghan is hailed as a ‘feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity’. The Sussexes’ online rebranding comes amid speculation that they may be seeking new production companies to work with. Their £18million ($22million) deal with Spotify recently came to an end, and there have been rumours that streaming giant Netflix may not renew its £80million ($101million) contract with them. 

The website is operated by ‘The Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex ‘ and is a ‘one-stop shop’ for all their activities. It comes ahead of the couple’s trip to Canada for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025’s One Year to Go celebrations. During the event, which will take place between Wednesday and Friday this week, Prince Harry is expected to make a speech where he will tell how special the country is to him and wife Meghan.  

Harry will tell crowds of his fond memories of their time spent on Vancouver Island after leaving their official royal duties in 2019, according to The Telegraph. The couple are said to have relished their time there while being free from the presence of the media and pressures of royal life. The Duke has previously spoken about how Canada felt like home to him and that ‘we (him and Meghan) could imagine spending the rest of our lives there’.

Sussex.com is minimalistic by design and features a large photograph of the couple on the home page. It has links to the Archewell Foundation and Archewell Productions website, as well as the controversial sussexroyal.com website launched in 2020 to coincide with their decision to step back as working royals. It is thought the Duke and Duchess will use the site to share their personal and official updates, keeping people informed through the ‘News’ section. 

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. This includes: The Archewell Foundation, Archewell Productions, patronages, ventures, and organizations which receive the support of the couple, individually and/or together.’ There is also a page dedicated to Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, detailing their backgrounds and achievements. Prince Harry’s biography references his 10-years served in the British Armed Forces and as a New York Times bestselling author of Spare, ‘a memoir of his life told with compassion, vulnerability and unflinching honesty’.

It also says he has ‘dedicated his adult life to advancing causes that he is passionate about and that advance permanent change for people and places’. The profile states that he founded the Invictus Games Foundation, describing it as a ‘globally celebrated display of resilience, community and athleticism that has won acclaim for its impact in celebrating those that serve’. Harry is also stated as the ‘founder and/or patron of a number of global charities and organisations’ including Travalyst, Senebale and WellChild, and that he sits on the board of African Parks. His appointment in 2021 as ‘chief impact officer’ at coaching firm BetterUp is also cited, as well as how he served on the Aspen Institute Commission on Information Disorder. 

Referring to the Archewell Foundation, it says he co-founded this alongside Meghan ‘to serve communities in need’, adding: ‘The Duke and Duchess are committed to their mission: Show Up, Do Good. They hold the value that charitable work should not simply be ‘a handout, but rather a hand held’.’ The Duke is also listed as living in California ‘with his wife Meghan, and their two children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’. Meghan’s biography refers to her advocacy work, her career in the entertainment industry as a lead role in the TV series ‘Suits’ and as a NY Times bestselling author of children’s book ‘The Bench’ and ‘Together: Our Community Kitchen’. Her biography also includes the line: ‘They are committed to their mission: Show Up, Do Good.’

It adds: ‘They hold the value that charitable work should not simply be ‘a handout, but rather a hand held’, a phrase Meghan first adopted in supporting UK charity Smart Works, of which she is patron, that supports women to enter the workforce.’ The Archewell Foundation is said to have been set up by the Duke and Duchess to ‘build meaningful initiatives’ and ‘drive long-term change’. Archewell Productions was founded in 2020 and is said to be ‘dedicated to illuminating thought-provoking and diverse narratives that underscore our common humanity and celebrate community.’ The biography states that her ‘lifelong advocacy for women and girls remains a constant thread in her humanitarian and business ventures’.

Meghan is also cited as having been ‘named one of the most influential women in the world in rankings including Time Magazine’s Most Influential People, The Financial Times’ 25 Most Influential Women, Variety Power of Women, and British Vogue’s Vogue 25.’ The biography says her ‘advocacy work on resilience, equality, and compassion through action has been recognized – alongside that of her husband, Prince Harry – with the NAACP President’s Award as well as the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award’. The Duchess is listed as having been ‘born and raised in Southern California’, before attending ‘Los Angeles based all-girls Catholic School, Immaculate Heart, which she continues to support as an alumna, before moving to Chicago to attend Northwestern University’. It says that while there, she ‘double majored in Theater and International Relations, and went on to intern at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as well as to study abroad in Madrid, Spain’.

The biography adds that after graduation, Meghan ‘turned her focus to the entertainment industry, later securing a lead role on the hit series, ‘Suits’ which she starred in for seven seasons’. It also states that ‘between filming, Meghan travelled to Rwanda, India, and other countries to support humanitarian missions’ – and she ‘served in key roles such as: UN Women’s Advocate for Women’s Political Participation and Leadership, a World Vision Global Ambassador, and a leading Counsellor to One Young World. Meghan also travelled to support the military community on a USO Tour, visiting six military bases in seven days including Bagram, Afghanistan’. The profile goes on to state that in 2018, ‘Meghan married Prince Harry, becoming The Duchess of Sussex’. She is said to have ‘written for a number of publications and created the lifestyle website, ‘The Tig’ – and ‘guest edited British Vogue in July 2019, which was the fastest selling copy in the magazine’s history’.

Meghan is listed as having launched ‘Archetypes’ in 2022, which is described as a ‘record-breaking podcast exploring the labels that hold women back’. It states that Archetypes ‘debuted at Number 1’ in the U.S., UK, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, and was the ‘Number 1 podcast’ in 47 countries. It says that after its first season, Archetypes was awarded The People’s Choice Award in the podcast category, as well as The Gracie Award for Best Podcast. Meghan is also described as a ‘NY Times Best Selling author, publishing the acclaimed children’s book, ‘The Bench’, and ‘Together: Our Community Kitchen’ a collaborative publication with the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen in the UK, who were displaced after the tragic Grenfell Fire’.

The Duchess is said to be ‘a major advocate for mental health, family care, and gender equity’. The biography also says she ‘hopes to be a cultural catalyst for positive change, reflecting her core belief that representation matters, and that communities can be enhanced through learning, healing, and inspirational support’. It also says Meghan ‘lives in California with her husband and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’. 

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Both are ladies in their 70s and approaching a time of life when they might expect to slow down. Instead Queen Camilla (pictured right), 76, and the Princess Royal (pictured top left), 73, are, in the words of one well-placed source, ‘holding up the ceiling’ while both King Charles and the Princess of Wales are recuperating from surgery and Prince William is supporting his wife.

Yesterday, Camilla (pictured) was cheered by around 1,000 excited, flag-waving schoolchildren in Bath as she completed her third engagement in as many days. She was at the St John’s Foundation almshouses in Bath, who provide shelter for older adults, to mark the group’s 850th anniversary. Sitting down for a cup of tea and a chat, she told 90-year-old Lisa Anderson that her husband was ‘recovering well, thank you’.

As Rita Willis, 86, stood up to greet the Queen, her St John’s Foundation pin badge fell off, leaving Camilla (pictured) – a sprightly decade younger – to kneel down on the floor and pick it up for her. Showing no sign of fatigue despite her busy workload, the Queen also engaged in a lively discussion about the benefits of ballet, which she dabbles in, and gardening. Looking smart in an Anna Valentine coat and Fiona Clare blouse, she said of the latter: ‘It gets everybody outside, I find it the most relaxing thing in the world, you come in and everything starts stiffening up [but] it’s worth it.’

Meanwhile the Princess Royal (pictured) has just appointed five new ‘Extra Ladies in Waiting’ – and announced a new private secretary – to cope with her workload. Four of her ‘older’ Ladies are now retiring. The notoriously no-nonsense princess has also shown she has a nostalgic side. Of her new Ladies in Waiting, two worked for her mother, Queen Elizabeth, until her death, part of the late monarch’s gang of much-loved ‘head girls’. 

And in a sign of just how devoted her own staff are to her, one of the retirees, Dame Rowena Feilden, has been by her side for more than 50 years. She was with the princess in 1974 when Anne was the subject of a violent kidnap attempt from her car. Her bodyguard and chauffeur were shot – and yet she famously snapped at her would-be abductor: ‘Not bloody likely.’ Dame Rowena’s loyalty was rewarded in December when she was made a Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for her personal service to the Crown in the New Year Honors. 

The princess now has 13 Ladies in Waiting and Extra Ladies in Waiting, all personal friends or people she has worked closely with over the years. ‘Her Royal Highness likes a close-knit, tight-ship,’ says one who knows her well. Ladies in Waiting are unpaid assistants who help with correspondence, organize engagements, assist at official events and generally make sure members of the Royal Family’s lives run smoothly. Pictured: Princess Anne, Princess Royal smiles during her visit to the opening of the Reaseheath Equestrian College on January 30, 2024 in Nantwich, England.

While the late Queen’s were all based at Buckingham Palace, Princess Anne has only a small ‘inner core’ of staff in London. Instead, she prefers to have a wide network of friends she can call on around the country as and when she is in the area for work. ‘She is so hard-working people can’t necessarily give their lives over to support her, and nor would she want or expect them to,’ explained a source. ‘Having a large number of effective part-time staff – friends – she can call on for help, without any cost to the public purse, when she knows she has engagements in a particular area, is an ideal solution.’

Another added: ‘It’s rather like having your own football team with a large number of reserves.’ They certainly have their work cut out for them. Last year the princess undertook 427 engagements and in the past week alone has been everywhere from Norfolk to Scotland. Pictured: Princess Anne, Princess Royal attends day two of Royal Ascot 2023 at Ascot Racecourse on June 21, 2023.

The Mail can also reveal that she will be standing in for the King and conducting extra investitures – the handing out of honours – while he recovers from prostate surgery. Those retiring are Dame Rowena, Lady Carew Pole, The Hon Dame Shan Legge-Bourke – mother of former nanny to a young Princes William and Harry, Tiggy Pettifer – and Mrs Margaret Hammond. Her new assistants include Lady Elizabeth Leeming, a member of the Bowes-Lyon family and the daughter of the 17th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, a distant cousin of Anne. She was appointed as a Lady in Waiting by Queen Elizabeth in 2017 and was considered among the ‘younger’ members of the close-knit royal team.

Also appointed by the late Queen was Mrs Susan Rhodes, who is married to Simon Rhodes, son of the late Margaret Rhodes, Elizabeth II’s cousin and lifelong friend whom she would visit after church at her home on the Windsor Estate most Sundays. Simon and Susan were former inhabitants of Adelaide Cottage, now the home of the Prince and Princess of Wales. The veteran royal aides will be joined by Dolly Maude, a midwife and best friend of Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall (pictured). She even helped to deliver her children. Last year Ms Maude was spotted with a Lady in Waiting badge at the races – brushed off as a joke at the time.

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Last night Meghan Markle was the image of Hollywood glamor with a slicked-back bun and what fashion experts believe to be a bespoke, flowing maxi skirt from Carolina Herrera – as she and her husband attended the premiere of the new Bob Marley film in Kingston, Jamaica. But when the Duchess of Sussex, has in past jetted off to the island – for her own wedding to first husband Trevor Engleson in 2011 and to a friends’ nuptials in 2017 – her ensembles appeared significantly less A-lister polished.

She paid a visit to the Caribbean nation thirteen years ago, showing off an even more laid-back style when she had her first ever wedding there. The Duchess – who has in past described herself as a ‘Californian hippie’ – donned a casual white sleeveless frock, adorned with minimal glittering detail at the waist, as she and her former husband had a beach barbecue at their reception.

The pair tied the knot at the Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios before their split in 2013, and Meghan could also be seen wearing a yellow bikini and baseball cap as she enjoyed some drinking games with pals ahead of the ceremony. 

Meanwhile in 2017, Meghan visited once again when Prince Harry’s pals Tom Inskip and Lara Hughes-Young tied the knot. Then, the mother-of-two channlled a boho-chic vibe with a simple flowery dress – featuring a flowy silhouette and a halter neck – along with some sunglasses. Instead of pinning her hair up, the former actress kept her brunette tresses relaxed and wavy. 

It’s also a marked contrast from Meghan’s previous island looks, such as her soft floral ensembles during a 2018 trip across Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. 

The Duchess of Sussex oozed glamor in a monochrome ensemble, which she looked to team with a simple body suit, on Tuesday evening. The strappy design showed off her toned shoulders and cinched at the waist, as the mother-of-two grinned for the cameras during Paramount’s glitzy screening of the biopic at the Carib Theater. Meghan teamed her sophisticated look with flashy accessories, and is thought by royal watchers, including Royal Fashion Police on Instagram, to have sported 18K Gold earrings from Jennifer Meyer Jewelry, costing $3,250 (around £2,558.37).

Elsewhere, the Duchess held onto her classic ‘J Box clutch’ from Jimmy Choo (worth £750, or around $952.75) – one of her staple items, which she has worn multiple times over the years. She showed off her dewy skin with simple, understated make-up and styled her hair in a slicked-back bun. Meanwhile Prince Harry, 39, opted for a casual black suit and white shirt for the event. 

Accustomed to wearing designer clothing and exquisite jewels, the Duchess of Sussex is widely recognized for her luxurious style. And in 2023, this was no exception as Meghan showcased a wardrobe worth £86,612.16 ($110,359.48). It is £4,121.48 ($5,251.10) more than her 2022 total, which was £79,000 ($100k). As a senior royal, her closet totaled £44,188 ($56,299.05). However, in 2018 her clothing bill totalled almost half a million pounds. While a working member of the Royal Family, the cost of Meghan’s clothes for work engagements was covered by then-Prince Charles through the budget he gave the couple from the Duchy of Cornwall.

Meanwhile, in 2021, she showcased outfits worth £58,388 ($74,405), and in 2020, the year she stepped back from her role as a working royal. However, since the couple became financially independent, it is not clear who is picking up the bill for Meghan’s clothes, whether she pays full price or receives discounts from designers. On International Women’s Day in March, she showcased her most expensive outfit, featuring a £2,996 ($3,818.45) Max Mara Lilia coat, paired with a Chanel 19 Flap bag, costing £4,759.54 ($6,066.11). The Duke and Duchess of Sussex turned heads as they posed for photos and shook hands with actors last night. 

The pair posed with the president and CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, Brian Robbins, and his wife Tracy James (pictured together). Meghan and Harry – who stepped down from royal duties four years ago – also stood with prime minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness and his wife Juliet at the premiere. Holness has said his country is ‘ moving on’ from the British monarchy. Harry’s father, King Charles, is currently head of state of Jamaica.

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The Princess of Wales has spent a second night in hospital after major abdominal surgery as William, her parents and siblings cleared their diaries to support her recovery and care for George, Charlotte and Louis. Kate is said to be ‘doing well’ as she recovers following the procedure at the London Clinic in Marylebone revealed on the same day King Charles announced he was taking a short break for treatment for an enlarged prostate. With Prince William also taking leave to care for his wife and children, the so-called ‘big three’ royals will be away from duties over the coming weeks with experts saying that with Harry and Meghan in the US, and Andrew in the cold, there is only Princess Anne and her brother Prince Edward to call on.

Kate is not expected to return to public events until after Easter, and her husband will combine being by his wife’s and children’s side throughout. Any royal tours William and Kate had in the diary for the coming months will also no longer take place amid speculation they would visit Italy together in March. Kate’s parents Carole and Michael Middleton and sibling Pippa Matthews and James Middleton are already rallying round and help support her recovery at her home in Windsor, which is close to their own homes. The nature of Kate’s condition has not been revealed although Kensington Palace confirmed it was not cancer-related. The Royal Family’s ‘big three’ are out of action because Buckingham Palace also revealed yesterday that King Charles III will attend hospital next week to be treated with a ‘corrective procedure’ for an enlarged prostate.

The Princess of Wales was sent a get well message by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) as she recovers from abdominal surgery. The charity, of which Kate is patron, wrote on X: ‘Everyone at East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) sends their very best wishes to our wonderful patron, HRH The Princess of Wales. We are all thinking of you and wish you a speedy recovery.’ The two health updates on senior royals came within 90 minutes of each other, with Kensington Palace coming first at 2pm then Buckingham Palace followed at 3.30pm. She was not rushed for hospital and her condition was not something that developed over the weekend, according to reports.

The Prince will also postpone a number of engagements as he supports his family, and will not undertake official duties while his wife is in hospital. He will also do no official duties during the immediate period after Kate’s return home. Royal aides will provide a revised schedule for William in due course. It is unclear what the exact nature of the surgery, with The Palace unwilling to reveal any details in respect of Kate’s ‘medical privacy’. However it did not rule out the prospect that she may choose to speak publicly about it herself in the future.

Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams told The Sun : ‘This might be something that has been bothering her for her whole life which she has not got round to resolving, or an issue that has come to light more recently. Two weeks in hospital is longer than we would normally expect, but she doesn’t have a normal life. She’s the future queen so the doctors will be erring on the side of caution. We all hope it is something minor and the surgery is straightforward, but precaution is wise. With anything medical you can never be completely certain how things will go. The most important thing is that she gets enough recovery time and it’s not too stressful for her and her family.’

Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, told The Express : ‘For abdominal surgery, most people stay in the hospital for four to seven days. After laparoscopic surgery [a type of keyhole surgery], this is reduced to two to four days. It very much depends on what exactly has been done. If a patient needs to go to ITU, it’s likely their hospital stay would be considerably longer. It can take two months or more for the patient to feel comfortable and be able to move around normally afterwards.’ Neither William nor Kate will travel internationally over the coming months. William and Kate were said to have been planning a high-profile visit to Rome this spring as part of a European charm offensive , but this is now in doubt. Another scheduled foreign military engagement could be affected.

Kate will almost certainly be forced to miss a number of high-profile events she might otherwise been expected to attend. She and William have regularly turned up for the Baftas, the biggest night in British cinema, held in central London this month, but this would be too soon for the recovering princess. She is also likely to miss out on a long-standing royal tradition in March – handing out shamrocks to the Irish Guards on St Patrick’s Day in her role as the regiment’s honorary colonel. The annual Commonwealth Day Service, also held in March, is likely to have to go ahead without her. The princess, patron of English rugby, is also unlikely to be well enough to attend the Guinness Six Nations, which kicks off next month.

The Princess marked her birthday just over a week ago, with the monarchy’s official social media accounts sharing a new behind-the-scenes photo of the princess at the King’s coronation. Kate usually enjoys good health but was previously admitted to hospital while pregnant after suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum – severe morning sickness . A palace spokesman said: ‘Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic for planned abdominal surgery. The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.’

Royal expert Phil Dampier said: ‘Wishing the Princess of Wales a speedy recovery after abdominal surgery. We don’t know the details but clearly this was serious as she will be in hospital for a fortnight and needs up to three months to recover.’ And the Queen’s former press secretary Dickie Arbiter said on X: ‘I am sure I speak for everyone in wishing HRH a speedy recovery.’ Like the rest of the royal family, Kate has had a busy, turbulent past couple of years, with the Platinum Jubilee and the late Queen’s death in 2022, and the coronation in 2023, as well as adjusting to her new role as the Princess of Wales.

The Waleses also faced the ongoing rift between William and his brother the Duke of Sussex, with Harry making controversial claims about Charles, Camilla, William and Kate in his Netflix documentary and memoir Spare. William’s former university flatmate has carefully carved out her charity work since marrying the prince in 2011 and becoming an HRH, focusing on mental health and early childhood. Seen as the monarchy’s safe pair of hands and as having a ‘keep calm and carry on’ approach, Kate has been heralded as channelling the same characteristics of charm, politeness and toughness as the late Queen Mother, who was once described as ‘a marshmallow made on a welding machine’.

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, who was private secretary to the Cambridges and the Duke of Sussex, and used to work for the Queen Mother, told The Times: ‘She takes time to talk to people. She is tough. She has got that Queen Mother feel in her, so that when things need doing, she is there to do them.’ The London Clinic, based on the corner of Devonshire Place and Marylebone Road in central London, is the UK’s largest independent private hospital. The clinic first opened its doors in 1932 and its previous patients include Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, actress Elizabeth Taylor and US president John F Kennedy. Read the full story:

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