Meghan and Harry dealt new blow with Archetypes snub after $20million Spotify deal axed

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are facing fresh disappointment as their application to trademark the word "Archetypes" has been rejected.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had submitted an application to get exclusive rights to "Archetypes", which is the name of their podcast, but the US Patent and Trademark Office has refused.

Harry and Meghan filed the application to try and obtain exclusive use of "Archetypes" for "downloadable audio recordings and podcasts" and anything related to the "cultural treatment of women and stereotypes facing women."

However, officials have rejected the application due to the "likelihood of confusion" with an existing brand.

Archetypes LLC, a company based in Arizona, applied for exclusive use back in 2015 for books and articles about "nutrition, fitness, sexuality, psychological self-improvement."

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have had their trademark application rejected (Getty)

It comes after their Spotify deal was axed (Spotify)

Meghan and Harry's lawyer, Majorie Witter Norman, has now applied for an extra three months in order to prepare another application.

The application rejection comes just days after Spotify and the couple released a joint statement announcing their decision to part ways.

Meghan and Harry's Archewell Audio signed an exclusive $20million (£16million) deal with Spotify at the end of 2020, as they attempted to be financially independent after breaking away from the Royal Family.

Meghan hosted the podcast Archetypes, which ran for 12 episodes from August last year.

They said the decision to part ways was mutual (AP)

On it, she interviewed a range of celebrities including Paris Hilton, Mariah Carey and Serena Williams.

The joint statement said: "Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together."

Following the axe, a top Spotify executive lashed out at Harry and Meghan and labelled them "f***ing grifters".

Bill Simmons, Head of Podcast Innovation and Monetisation at Spotify, said on his podcast: "The f***ing grifters. That's the podcast we should have launched with them.

"I've got to get drunk one night and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to try and help him with a podcast idea. It's one of my best stories."

* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.