Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a public appearance on Valentine’s Day in Canada, despite facing criticism over the launch of their new website.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex looked affectionate as they celebrated the upcoming 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver, which Harry founded in 2014. The Games involve injured and wounded service personnel from around the world. The next event will introduce winter sports such as alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, and curling at the Whistler resort.
Despite recent backlash over their new Sussex.com website, replacing the previous Archewell.com site, the couple seemed undeterred. They had previously abandoned their SussexRoyal.com website at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s instruction when they announced their royal step-down in 2020.
However, their new website contains a link to the original “Sussex Royal” page, contrary to the Queen’s directive, sparking speculation that it may be shut down by the royal family, as reported by the Mail Online.
“They are going to have real trouble with the use of Sussex,” the source said.
“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.”
However, another insider backed the couple’s decision.
“Prince Harry and Meghan are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. That is a fact. It is their surname and family name,” the source said.
In the midst of the criticism, Meghan issued a statement in which she expressed her heartfelt support for the digital artists behind their new online presence – the same team that developed her now-defunct, pre-Harry lifestyle site, The Tig.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
Harry and Meghan’s recent visit to Vancouver adds to their already packed schedule. Harry recently made a quick trip back to the UK to catch up with his father, King Charles, after the announcement of Charles’s cancer diagnosis. Just a day later, Harry was on stage presenting an award at the 2024 NFL Honours.
Meanwhile, Meghan has announced her return to podcasting, following the collapse of her and Harry’s lucrative Spotify deal eight months ago. She will be releasing a new podcast through Lemonada media, details of which are yet to be revealed, along with her first one-season series titled Archetypes.