Prince Harry and Meghan Markle deny plans to give out their own 'honours'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have denied planning to launch their own honours system through their non-profit organisation.
The couple are preparing to launch Archewell in the coming months and reports have surfaced suggesting part of the work the organisation would do would include an honours list.
A spokesman for the couple has denied the reports.
The Sun reported the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wanted to have their own awards system and likened it to the Queen’s honours, which are given out twice a year.
Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, do have an active trademark application in the US for Archewell.
The trademark application describes part of the organisation’s work as “providing recognition and incentives by the way of awards to entities and individuals who have made significant charitable contributions; providing recognition and incentives by the way of awards to demonstrate excellence in the field of community service and charitable giving”.
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They are also seeking permission for a trademark for the organisation in relation to clothing, books and magazines.
Press secretary for Archewell, Toya Holness, said: “We look forward to sharing more about Archewell’s work in the weeks ahead but any suggestion that it is intended to rival the UK honours list is false.
“Furthermore, the trademark application has followed the normal course of business for the US Trademark process and any suggestion otherwise is also false.”
The couple launched a website for Archewell earlier this year, but it remains a simple holding page with an option for people to sign up to a mailing list for updates.
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Harry and Meghan said they were in no rush to launch the organisation, and intend to work through it for the rest of their lives.
However it’s understood that much of the work they have tackled since stepping back as senior royals in March will be reflected in the work of Archewell when it does officially start.
That could include work on racial and gender equity, and support for organisations that encourage voter registration.
In June the couple were told the application they filed was too vague, but new details were subsequently filed with the US authorities.
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