Meghan Markle issues statement on new website amid rebrand criticism
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have rebranded their website - and it seems Meghan Markle knew who should design it.
The websites were designed by Article, a Canadian digital agency that the Duchess previously used to construct her lifestyle blog The Tig and Archewell. Now a statement from Meghan has appeared on their website praising their work - and a cheeky nod to her love of Canada, where she filmed Suits, and is currently visiting for the Invictus Games launch.
"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,” the duchess said in a statement on the Article website.
Meghan ran her lifestyle blog The Tig when she was an actress on the TV show Suits (Getty Images)"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.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s previous site, Archewell, now automatically redirects to Sussex.com, which consistently refers to the couple by their official royal titles. It features a photograph of the pair, with the text 'The Office of Prince Harry & Meghan, The Duke & Duchess of Sussex', alongside a royal coat of arms.
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The statement about the new website (madebyarticle.com)A source close to the royals spoke out yesterday after the pair were criticised for using the coat of arms and using their titles so prominently - after previously eschewing them by ditching the 'SussexRoyal' brand in 2020. They said: 'Prince Harry and Meghan are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. That is a fact. It is their surname and family name.'
In individual biographies of the couple, Harry is highlighted as a “humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate, and environmental campaigner” - but not as a member of the Royal Family. Neither is Meghan, who is described as a “feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity” who has been named “one of the most influential women in the world” across a series of rankings.
One source told the Mail: '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.'
Meghan Markle ran a popular blog called The Tig (meghanmaven.com)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.
In February 2002, a spokeswoman for the pair said they would no longer use the word royal, as in their Sussex Royal branding. The spokeswoman said: "While the duke and duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organisation, given the specific UK government rules surrounding use of the word royal, it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organisation, when it is announced this spring, will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation.
"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use ‘Sussex Royal’ in any territory post-spring 2020. Therefore, the trademark applications that were filed as protective measures, acting on advice from and following the same model for The Royal Foundation, have been removed.”
On their new website, Prince Harry's bio says: "Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex is a humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate, and environmental campaigner. He has dedicated his adult life to advancing causes that he is passionate about and that advance permanent change for people and places." It promotes his new memoir as a tale "of his life told with compassion, vulnerability, and unflinching honesty."
Her bio adds: "Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex is a feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity. Her lifelong advocacy for women and girls remains a constant thread in her humanitarian and business ventures. She has 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."
It also features a royal coat of arms.
In the “About” section, the website states: "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 organisations which receive the support of the couple, individually and/or together.”
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Archewell had replaced Harry and Meghan’s previous Sussex Royal brand after they quit royal duties.
The name was inspired by their son Archie – combining “arche”, the Greek word meaning source of action, and “well” as “a plentiful source or supply; a place we go to dig deep”.
The new website links to the couple’s non-profit organisation the Archewell Foundation and their production company Archewell Productions.
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