Meghan Markle breaks her silence to defend new Sussex.com site

The Duchess of Sussex has broken her silence to defend the new Sussex.com site following a spate of criticism. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘provocative’ decision to relaunch their Archewell website, the umbrella name for all their philanthropic and business endeavours, with ‘Sussex.com’ had sparked accusations they are trying to be ‘more Royal’. Royal insiders told MailOnline that the website, created by Canadian agency Article, made ‘no sense’ and created a ‘blurred line between the past and the present’ as the couple were told to drop their ‘Sussex’ title in 2020 after quitting as working royals.

Responding to the criticism Meghan said in a statement: ‘There is a reason I have worked with Ryan and the talented team at Article for a decade: their attention to detail, their creativity and care, and the thoughtful approach to design as well as to the user experience. They’re not just designers; they are collaborators who elevate your ideas into visual identities. They’re a very special company. Plus they’re Canadian, so I’m a fan.’ 

It comes as Meghan today announced a new podcast deal with female-founded U.S. podcast network Lemonada Media, which aims to ‘make life suck less’ with shows around [sexual intercourse], grief and LGBTQ issues. Prince Harry and Meghan unveiled their new website Sussex.com earlier this week, which modestly insists the pair are ‘shaping the future through business and philanthropy.’

The website is operated by ‘The Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ and is a ‘one-stop shop’ for all their activities. But there is no reference in their biographies about any of their links to the Royal Family – with Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne, described as a ‘humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate and environmental campaigner’. 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, 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’. 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’. Their biographies include the line: ‘They 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 Archewell Foundation was set up by the Duke and Duchess to ‘build meaningful initiatives’ and ‘drive long-term change’. Archewell Productions was founded in 2020 and is ‘dedicated to illuminating thought-provoking and diverse narratives that underscore our common humanity and celebrate community.’ Many close to the royal household believe it is a flagrant breach of the supposedly cast-iron assurances Harry and Meghan gave the late Queen when they acrimoniously quit as working royals in 2020, and comes perilously close to using their royal status for commercial gain. Well-placed sources said the new online website would provide a ‘big challenge’ for Buckingham Palace’s Lord Chamberlain.

The top Royal official must decide whether to take the Sussexes to task or ‘let it slide’ in order to keep the already fragile family peace. Others described it as a betrayal of the agreement, ‘if not in letter, certainly in spirit’. But a source close to the couple brushed off the claims and defended the use of their royal titles for the website. They said: ‘Prince Harry and Meghan are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. That is a fact. It is their surname and family name.’

Experts have also pointed out that the website launch comes just a week after it was revealed King Charles III had been diagnosed with cancer, and Kate Middleton continues her recuperation at home following abdominal surgery. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: ‘The Sussexes have a curious sense of timing. The question is not whether it is their right to launch a new website Sussexes.com with their coat of arms and using their royal titles, but the extraordinary timing.’

‘Only a week ago Harry was visiting his father who, as we know, is fighting cancer. The Royal Family is therefore much in the news with the Princess of Wales recuperating from what appears to be a serious illness. As members of the Royal Family, having stepped down from royal duties, it would surely be more sensitive and more sensible to leave their rebrand until later in the year. The bizarre aspect of this is that although that is likely to be the way the world perceives it, they apparently cannot see that this is spectacularly ill-timed,’ Fitzwilliams added.

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