A BRITISH doctor has claimed an IMPOSTER lodged the bid to block Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's trademark – hours after saying he did it for "personal" reasons.
Dr Benjamin Worcester, 34, was named on forms objecting to the Duke and Duchess's Sussex Royal trademark application.
Harry and Meghan are keen to use the name to launch their foundation and make money from branded goods including hoodies and postcards.
And Brit Dr Worcester, who has moved to Melbourne, Australia, told The Sun Online today he had a "personal" reason to lodge the objection against the proposals.
When asked for more details about his problem with the royals, Dr Worcester refused to clarify, stating: "My reasoning is personal and not for public consumption."
But in a bizarre twist, just hours later, the medic claimed an IMPOSTER had lodged the bid.
The application with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) could have meant the royal couple face a legal battle over the trademark.
However, the IPO said this afternoon that they had been informed the notice was being withdrawn, citing Dr Worcester's imposter claims.
It told The Sun Online in a statement: "The IPO has been advised by an individual that their personal details have been used without their permission to submit a ‘Notice of threatened opposition’ to the Sussex Royal trade mark.
"While we are unable to discuss the specifics of trade mark applications, we are able to advise that we are in the process of rescinding this notice.”
This astonishing reversal means Harry and Meghan's trademark application can now go ahead – providing no other complaints are lodged.
The doctor's sudden denial comes after he confirmed to both The Sun Online and trade site World Trademark Review that he was behind the objection notice.
Hours later, his family also flip-flopped over whether he was involved.
His brother Ammiel, of Salford, Manchester eventually claimed "it must be a mix up".
Speaking from his doorstep, the told The Sun Online: "I've been in touch with my brother and he insists it's not him."
Dr Worcester worked as a doctor in the NHS in London from 2011 to 2014 and studied medicine at University College London before moving to Australia.
According to the General Medical Council register, Dr Worcester is currently registered in the UK without a licence to practise.
However, he registered with the Australian Medical Council in 2014 after moving overseas with his family.
The formal ‘notice of threatened opposition' was filed to the UK Government’s IPO on Tuesday and could have meant Harry and Meghan would have to shell out in lawyers fees and other costs to get the right to use the name in the UK.
But the trademark application can continue to go ahead after the objection notice was rescinded.
The Queen has yet to decide whether they can still use the “royal” part of their name – which could be worth billions.
After registering a trademark, there is a period of ‘opposition’, when anyone against its use is first allowed to make this known and has the effect of extending the time before the trademark can be used.
It gives opponents the time to mount a case against its use, although they may decide not to object.
The period of opposition for Harry and Meghan’s application was due to end on February 20, but that period is now extended until at least March 20.
SUSSEX ROYAL: The fight for the brand
April 2019: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry launch their Sussex Royal Instagram page
June 2019: The couple file for the Sussex Royal brand with the Intellectual Property Office
January 8 2020: Meghan and Harry reveal they intend to 'step back' as senior royals and become financially independent
January 18: The Queen allows the couple to step back, and they agree to pay back the £2.4m of taxpayer money spent on Frogmore Cottage
January 21: A notice of threatened opposition is filed against the Sussex Royal trademark
January 24: The Intellectual Property Office confirmed the notice was being rescinded
Lee Curtis, a chartered trademark attorney and partner at specialist law firm HGF, said: “Filing a notice of threatened opposition is relatively easy and can be done online for free.
“The filing of a formal notice of opposition is much more involved.
“Right now, the threatened opposition delays the progress of the Sussex Royal application by at least one month, but if a formal opposition is ultimately mounted, this will involve the payment of an opposition fee, the drafting of formal grounds of opposition and the filing of evidence and legal submissions in support of the opposition.
“The whole opposition could take at least a year to get to a decision and is thus not an action entered into lightly with a possible costs award against the losing party.”
Meghan and Harry were previously reported to have trademarked 100 items including pencils and socks six months ago in their bid to become financially independent.
The couple agreed to drop their HRH titles and pay back the £2.4million spent on renovating their Frogmore Cottage home as part of the deal to quit the Royal Family.
Experts predicted they could rake in millions in commercial deals while still pocketing £2million a year from Prince Charles.
However Charles has urged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle not to profit from their Royal titles with strict rules expected on branding.
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