Duchess moves her business to Delaware

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has moved her business to a US state used by the super-rich to protect their interests from scrutiny.

The duchess’ company, Frim Fram Inc, was moved out of California in December and incorporated in Delaware, which tax experts suggest could be done to avoid being hit with tax liabilities in the west coast state.

Corporation filings seen by The Daily Telegraph show that the move was made on New Year’s Eve, while the Sussexes were taking a break in Canada.

‘‘You would want to do it on New Year’s Eve simply because if you go one minute into the next year you would owe some taxes to California for the year of 2020,’’ said Alan Stachura, from financial services firm Wolters Kluwer.

‘‘Typically the expectation would be that taxes would be higher in California than Delaware.’’

Stachura, who helps companies incorporate in Delaware, added that the state offers ‘‘a tax benefit for items like trademarks and royalties’’.

The duke and duchess took steps to protect the ‘‘Sussex Royal’’ brand in the autumn, allowing them to sell dozens of products including T-shirts, hoodies and gloves. Talk shows, book deals, beauty products and even a clothing range may be under consideration, according to royal sources.

It has been reported that Meghan has a high-powered team currently sifting through offers of commercial opportunities.

The team is thought to include Nick Collins, the duchess’ former Hollywood talent agent; Andrew Meyer, her business manager; and Rick Genow, her lawyer.

Meyer and Genow are listed as chief executive and secretary of Frim Fram Inc, the company behind the duchess’ lifestyle blog, The Tig, which she shut down shortly before her engagement to Prince Harry in November 2017.

Delaware is known for being home to more corporations than people, with almost 65 per cent of Fortune 500 companies incorporated in the state.

While a company’s officers and directors must be disclosed, the owner is not required to identify themselves.

Frim Fram has elected to pay a fee to have the ability to sell shares, should it choose to go public at a future date.

A source said that as the duchess is no longer resident in California, it was appropriate for the company to be moved.

It is understood it receives payments for work undertaken before she joined the royal family. –

GETTY IMAGES Merchandise featuring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is seen on sale in London. The duke and duchess have announced that they are to step back from their senior royal roles and are planning on splitting their time between the United Kingdom and North America.