A property developer has been forced to remove its advertisements featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle which claim their homes are ‘fit for part-time royalty’.
Hagan Homes, based in Ballyclare, Northern Ireland, claimed its campaign, which featured images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex looking thoughtful and emotional, was meant to be a ‘light-hearted’ play on their move to Canada.
But the building company received a warning from the couple’s legal team demanding their removal.
According to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), members of the Royal Family should not normally be shown or mentioned in a marketing communication without their prior permission.
Hagan Homes has complied and offered to pay a £10,000 donation to a charity of Meghan and Harry’s choice.
A property developer has been forced to remove its advertisements featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle which claim their homes are ‘fit for part-time royalty’
Its advertising campaign had appeared on billboards in Belfast and online, and used taglines such as ‘Leaving family and moving home can be daunting and stressful – not with us’.
One image showed Prince Harry thoughtfully looking off into the distance, while another featured a still of the duchess looking close to tears from their documentary Meghan and Harry: An African Journey.
The couple announced they were quitting as senior members of the Royal Family and want to work to become financially independent earlier this month.
Another of the taglines used by Hagan Homes on the controversial adverts read: ‘If after many months of reflection and internal discussions, you have chosen to make a transition this year to start to carve out a progressive new role as a home owner and if you intend to step back as “senior” members of your family and work to become financially independent, we have the first time buyer home for you.’
Hagan Homes, based in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, claimed its campaign, which featured images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex looking thoughtful and emotional, was meant to be a ‘light-hearted’ play on their move to Canada
A further one said: ‘You might still want to split your time between your new home and family home, best of both worlds.’
The company agreed to pull the adverts after the Sussexes’ legal team claimed they did not have the couple’s permission to use their photos, and warned of further action, the Belfast Telegraph reports.
James Hagan, founder and chairman of Hagan Homes, established in 1988, said the adverts were not intended to cause offence.
‘The “Hagan Homes Fit For Part-time Royalty campaign” was intended to reflect Northern Ireland’s typically light-hearted approach to a challenging situation,’ he explained.
The company agreed to pull the adverts after the Sussexes’ legal team claimed they did not have the couple’s permission to use their photos, and warned of further action
‘Many young people struggle with the complexities of buying a new home and we were keen to emphasise that support is available in such circumstances.
‘We believe Harry and Meghan are strong role models for all young people who are trying to find their own path in life, and in recognition of this, Hagan Homes is keen to make a donation of £10,000 to a charity of Harry and Meghan’s choice.’
It is not yet known which charity will benefit from the donation.
The social media adverts have already been removed, while its billboard ads will be be taken down by close of play today.
An incidental reference unconnected with the advertised product, or a reference to material such as a book, article or film about a member of the Royal Family, may be acceptable.
Meghan and Harry, pictured in January last year, announced they were quitting as senior members of the Royal Family and want to work to become financially independent earlier this month
Yesterday it emerged that the Queen offered Meghan and Harry the freedom to live without titles ahead of their wedding, but the Suits star was ‘happy’ to stop acting and become a working royal.
The source went on to say that officials had become frustrated that the couple now feel they were pressured into quitting royal life.
Last week Buckingham Palace announced that from the spring, the couple will stop using their HRH titles and withdraw from royal duties, including official military appointments.
Earlier today Meghan’s father Thomas Markle told ITV’s Good Morning Britain he is ’embarrassed’ at the way his daughter and her husband have stood down, claiming they have ‘hurt’ the Royal Family.