Meghan Markle Might Not Be Allowed to Re-Launch Her Lifestyle Blog, ‘The Tig’ Thanks to Royal Rules
After leaving the British royal family in quite a bit of fanfare, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is reclaiming her life. After years of turmoil as the first mixed-race woman in the royal family, Meghan and Prince Harry decided that they could no longer live with the constant criticism, chaos, and lies the British press spewed about the duchess.
Now, the couple has resigned from their roles as senior members of the British royal family and are currently reshaping their lives in Meghan’s hometown of Los Angeles, California. We know that the Sussexes are looking to launch their new brand/foundation Archewell and there are whispers that Meghan will relaunch her lifestyle brand, The Tig.
However, amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and rising racial tensions on the country, the Sussexes’ plans for the future are currently on hold. In fact, the duchess may not be able to relaunch The Tig due to royal rules.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are working a ton behind the scenes
In early March 2020, the Sussexes announced their plans for their future. “Before Sussex Royal, came the idea of ‘Arche’—the Greek word meaning ‘source of action,’” the couple said in a statement. “We connected to this concept for the charitable organization we hoped to build one day, and it became the inspiration for our son’s name. To do something of meaning, to do something that matters. Archewell is a name that combines an ancient word for strength and action, and another that evokes the deep resources we each must draw upon.”
However, Archewell won’t have a formal launch for quite some time due to global events. Still, the pair are working a ton from home and behind and the scenes.
“One of the things I was told by a friend of the couple’s is that they actually are enjoying the slightly slower pace,” royal expert Katie Nicholl told Entertainment Tonight. “They are busy and they are doing quite a lot behind the scenes, but you know, this is a couple that tends to operate 100 miles per hour. I think they’re enjoying the lockdown and the fact that they’ve been able to take a bit of a breather.”
Meghan Markle could relaunch ‘The Tig’
Prior to getting engaged to Prince Harry in November 2017, the duchess ran her popular lifestyle blog, The Tig. The Suits alum launched the site in 2014 as a “hub for the discerning palate — those with a hunger for food, travel, fashion [and] beauty.” However, due to royal rules, when she and Prince Harry got serious she was forced to shutter the brand.
Now there are whispers that she might be bringing it back. In fact, the Sussexes’ business manager Andrew Meyer recently renewed the trademark for The Tig.
If Meghan does relaunch the brand it would be a massive success. “I think that Meghan’s power as a dresser will continue,” journalist Elizabeth Holmes told Town & Country of Meghan’s “Markle Sparkle.” “There are so few people—even among celebrities—that have the kind of economic power to move merchandise the way that royal women do, so I hope and I think she’ll choose carefully.”
Royal rules might prevent Meghan Markle from relaunching ‘The Tig’
Though she is no longer a senior working royal, the duchess still has royal status. As a result, rules are at play that prevents her from any endorsements. It would be very difficult to relaunch The Tig as a brandless site. In fact, it seems that Meghan and Prince Harry have no plans of resurrecting the site at this time.
“The lasting trademark is to prevent false branding, to avoid others purporting to be the Duchess or affiliated with her,” the Sussexes’ spokesperson said in a statement.
