‘The Sussexes’ brand is similar to that of the Beckhams — and the Beckhams are on the rich list with £355m’ getting off a plane after returning from a meeting in the US. The couple still have a few duties left in the UK, however, including Harry joining US rock star Jon Bon Jovi at the Abbey Road Studios in London this Friday. The singer is re-recording his song Unbroken with the Invictus Games Choir in aid of the Invictus Games Foundation, the charity of which Harry is patron. The single will honour veterans living with posttraumatic stress disorder. To publicise the event, the Duke a n d D u c h e s s ’s @ s u s s e x r o y a l Instagram account posted a mock text exchange between Harry and Jon, during which the Duke says he is “livin’ on a prayer” before adding: “Don’t expect me to sing..BUT I’ll give it a shot!”
The couple will give up their office at Buckingham Palace as they embrace life – and the winter (Meghan in January, above) – on Vancouver Island (right)
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THE ‘SUSSEX ROYAL’ BRAND There have been discussions about whether the couple would retain their Sussex Royal tag, especially in light of plans for their own nonprofit organisation. However, given specific UK government rules surrounding use of the word “royal”, it has been agreed that the charity set-up will not be called the Sussex Royal Foundation. A spokesperson added that the Duke and Duchess do not intend to use “SussexRoyal” in any territory after this spring, and trademark applications for it that had been filed have been removed. TITLES While Harry and Meghan will continue to be styled as HRH (His and Her Royal Highness), they will not actively use those titles. Nevertheless, they will continue to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as well as the Earl and Countess of Dumbarton in
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MARCHING ON IN THE UK Harry’s studio date will be followed a few days later by his first official public engagement with Meghan since their bombshell news. The couple will attend the Endeavour Fund Awards on 5 March to recognise sporting and other achievements by wounded, injured and sick service personnel. The following day, Harry joins Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton for the official opening of the Silverstone Experience in Towcester, an immersive museum that tells the story of British motor racing and has a charitable mission to inspire the next generation of engineers. Then, on 7 March, Meghan will again be at her husband’s side for the Mountbatten Festival of Music, an annual event featuring the Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines at the Royal Albert Hall. Held in aid of the Royal Marines Charity and the children’s cancer charity Clic Sargent, the event this year marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and 80 years since the formation of Britain’s Commandos. Meghan will be out the next day to mark International Women’s Day, with further details still to be announced, followed on 9 March by
the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey, when she and Harry will join the Queen and other members of the royal family. In addition, Harry is also expected to attend the London Marathon in April – he has been patron of the event since 2012 – and both the Duke and Duchess will be at the Invictus Games in the Netherlands in May. The couple have said they intend to spend some of their time in North America, but their spokesman stressed they will “regularly” return to the UK as they continue with their charity work outside the royal fold. It has been agreed that their working model for financial independence, which has never before been tried within the royal family, will be reviewed after 12 months to ensure it is working for all concerned, leaving the door open for the couple to return. Following the announcement of the 31 March changeover, a spokesperson for the couple outlined how they see their new working arrangements:
