Meghan Markle’s new lifestyle firm, American Riviera Orchard, encountered a major setback before to its formal launch owing to a trademark denial.
According to The Telegraph, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejected their trademark registration because companies cannot operate under the names of real locations.
The Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and their two children live in Santa Barbara, Calif., sometimes known as the “American Riviera.”
The setback was discovered when Prince William returned to work following his summer holiday, sporting a beard while visiting a homelessness display.
William and Kate unveiled the gruff appearance in a surprise video last month, celebrating Team GB on their Olympic victory.
The noticeably more relaxed look prompted debate online. Some royal fans urged him to preserve his stubble, while others teased him for seeming to be on “vacation mode.”