It turns out that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle bought the domain name of their website “Sussex.com” from a British-born businessman who is said to be very happy with the fee they received.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex launched their controversial website on Monday as part of a royal rebrand after purchasing the domain name from tech entrepreneur Neil Agate for an undisclosed fee.
Mr Agate, who is from Sussex but lives in the US, created the name in 1995 and kept it for almost 30 years.
It is believed that Harry and Meghan used a broker who did not reveal the Sussexes' identities when purchasing the domain name without arguing over the price.
The domain was registered on February 4th – nine days before Harry and Meghan's relaunch on Sussex.com.
Mr Agate, who lives in Maryland, shared a photo of the new website on Wednesday and wrote: “Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on purchasing Sussex.com for your new website.”
It has been revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (pictured in Whistler this week) have purchased the domain name of their website Sussex.com from a British-born businessman
Neil Agate (pictured), who is from Sussex but lives in the US, created the name in 1995 and kept it for almost 30 years
Mr Agate congratulated the Duke and Duchess on purchasing his website domain name
Meghan's 2018 coat of arms can be seen above the couple's name on Sussex.com
“The domain has served me well for 30 years and I am particularly pleased that it is still owned by a British polo player.”
He also revealed he had received inquiries over the years and joked about how many Sussex insurance companies had contacted him.
He told The Sun on Sunday: “Most of them weren't worth the effort. “I received an email from an agent in December and replied with my asking price. They accepted it.
“I think the price was fair.” I didn't know who bought it. “I am very happy with the situation.”
Records show that the domain Sussex.com was originally owned by Sussex Systems Inc., a computer software company in Washington DC. This company first registered the domain in 1995.
The Sussexes' rebrand, which comes after they stopped using their website SussexRoyal.com in 2020, includes a large photo of the couple on the homepage and two profiles, one for Prince Harry, 39, and one for Meghan, 42.
Although the Sussexes stepped down as senior royals in January 2020, Harry is still a prince and is fifth in line to the throne. The couple retained their titles as Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but are no longer addressed as His Royal Highness.
Harry and Meghan have come under fire in recent days over their new website Sussex.com, particularly the duchess's coat of arms – critics claim it is a breach of their promise to the late Queen Elizabeth as she acrimoniously performs her frontline royal duties laid down.
And her decision to change her children Archie and Lilibet's surnames to Sussex has also caused a stir among royal watchers.
The moves sparked a new wave of criticism of the Duke and Duchess, with renewed calls for the duo to be stripped of their “Duke” and “Duchess” titles.
But this week a representative for Harry and Meghan hit back at claims these are the last chances for them to regain popularity and success.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in September 2023. The photo now appears on the sussex.com homepage
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's royal coat of arms is featured prominently on the new website Sussex.com, potentially causing tensions
Their About page states: “The office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is shaping the future through business and philanthropy.”
The website Sussex.com contains flowery descriptions of the Duke and Duchess
Meghan and Harry will be attending the Invictus Games One Year To Go event on February 14th
The source said: “We've heard time and time again that certain opportunities are crucial for the couple.”
“They are still here.” They are still working and pursuing what they believe in, even though they are constantly challenged and criticized. “This couple will not be broken up,” the rep added to The Mirror.
Meghan also said in a statement, “There's a reason I've worked with Ryan and the talented team at Article for a decade: their attention to detail, their creativity and care, and thoughtful approach to design and user experience.”
“They’re not just designers; They are collaborators who transform your ideas into visual identities. You are a very special company. Plus they’re Canadian, so I’m a fan.”
Richard Eden, editor of the Chron's social magazine, said the website was a “bold” move that would only serve to undermine King Charles and his heir, Harry's brother, the Prince of Wales.
“The California-based couple have renamed their website to make it more regal and have even started exploiting their old 'Sussex Royal' title – something they told the late Queen they wouldn't do.” , he said.
“Instead of using their Archewell brand, Prince Harry and Meghan have relaunched their website as Sussex.com.
“Provocatively, they have started using Sussexroyal.com to drive traffic to their fancy new website.”
Harry tried out one of the participants' sit-skis and seemed to enjoy being pushed down the slope by his instructor
Meghan and Harry's appearance in Whistler came amid controversy over the Sussexes' redesigned website
A film crew was spotted joining the Sussexes as they arrived for a day of skiing
Previously, he explains, the site promoted Archewell, the name of her charitable foundation and her television and film production company.
Now it focuses on “The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”
“Their titles are displayed under Meghan’s coat of arms.” In the biographical section, they even use the titles of their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
“I am sure that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex randomly chose this moment, when King Charles is being treated for an unnamed form of cancer, to do something they would never have dared to do during Queen Elizabeth's lifetime. “
“This bold move has confirmed my long-held suspicions that Harry and Meghan are determined to portray themselves as a rival royal family and undermine the king and his heir, the Prince of Wales.”
“The fact that they have chosen to act while the King is being treated for a serious illness and the Princess of Wales is recovering from major surgery shows they have no shame.”
“In earlier times, an embittered, ambitious prince took the opportunity of hearing rumors about a monarch in poor health and withdrawn from public duties to attempt to usurp the crown,” writes Eden.
“Nowadays, it seems, they are rebelling in virtual form.”
The couple didn't seem fazed this week as they took a three-day trip to Vancouver and Whistler this week to promote next year's Invictus Games.
Elsewhere, Meghan has signed a new podcast deal with Lemonada Media after she and Prince Harry parted ways with Spotify.
The move will see her host a new podcast series for the female-founded company and distribute her Spotify-exclusive show Archetypes across all platforms.
The new deal comes a year after the Dutchwoman and her husband Harry ended their $20 million deal with Spotify, three years after it was signed.
Spotify and the Sussexes' audio production company, Archewell Audio, released a joint statement saying they had “mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together.”
A top Spotify podcast executive then called Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “fucking frauds” after they produced just one 13-episode podcast series for the company and then split.
The Sussexes were spotted flying back to California last night after their three-day tour.
This came after Buckingham Palace apparently ruled out Prince Harry's return to the royal fold. Palace sources claimed there was “no way back” for the duke despite flying to Britain to be by his father’s side following the royal’s cancer diagnosis.
Palace officials insist the chance of the duke stepping in to help the downsized monarchy is “zero percent” as King Charles undergoes cancer treatment and the Princess of Wales recovers from abdominal surgery.
Yesterday it was reported that the Duke of Sussex – who stepped down as senior royal in 2020 – was ready to return to a temporary royal role to support his father during his illness.
Insiders had revealed that Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne, and Charles had several “warm conversations” during the Duke's transatlantic trip to Clarence House on February 6.
But palace sources told the Sunday Telegraph there was “no way back” for Harry, who said in a US interview this week that he believed the king's illness could help unite his family.
Archewell has been contacted for comment.