Why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are renaming Archewell Foundation
Topics: Meghan Markle, Prince Archie, Prince Harry, Princess Lilibet, Royal Family, Charity
Jen Thomas
Featured Image Credit: Samir Hussein / Contributor / via Getty
Topics: Meghan Markle, Prince Archie, Prince Harry, Princess Lilibet, Royal Family, Charity
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they are renaming the Archewell Foundation, five years after it was formed.
The couple set up the foundation for their charitable work and announced the name change on 19 December.
The non-profit organisation shared a statement, claiming the new name is designed to increase their 'meaningful reach'.
It said: "This next chapter allows Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to broaden their global philanthropic efforts as a family, with meaningful reach and maximum impact, grounded in the same values, partnerships, and their commitment to show up and do good."
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The pair relocated to the US and set up the foundation, named after their son, Archie, and have recently shared a holiday photo which has got people talking.
They have since welcomed a daughter, Lilibet.
Elsewhere on the foundation's website, it revealed the new name as Archewell Philanthropies.
The site read: "After five beautiful years, the Archewell Foundation is becoming Archewell Philanthropies. This charitable entity allows the couple and their children to expand upon their global philanthropic endeavors as a family."
It appears that Meghan and Harry want Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, to be part of their charitable efforts.
The move is perceived by some as an effort to shift the appearance of the foundation to one of a family enterprise.
A 'philanthropies' branding suggests the desire to have more flexibility with their causes.
However, it has also emerged that there will be 'staff cuts' as a result of the change.
A spokesperson told People: "The move toward a fiscal sponsor operating model does mean that some staff redundancies are inevitable, particularly with junior admin roles."
They added: "We will not be discussing these personnel details further, other than to say that we are honored to have worked with incredibly talented and caring people who dedicate themselves to helping others."
Earlier this year, Archie and Lilibet accompanied Meghan and Harry when they attended Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA), where they were seen rolling balls of dough together.
The foundation was set up in 2020 and will still operate as a non-profit, despite the name change.
They also created Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio, with Meghan launching a lifestyle TV show for Netflix, With Love, Meghan, and declaring that she misses Magic Radio in the UK.
She recently released a Christmas special, called With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration.
The couple has discussed their desire to 'show up, do good'.
So far, their efforts have been focused on community support, mental health, disaster relief and more.
They have worked with the likes of World Central Kitchen, The Mission Continues, Women for Afghan Women and the Center for Humane Technology.
Their charitable donations include $500,000 (£370,200) to projects working with injured children from Gaza and Ukraine, $200,000 (£148,100) for the World Health Organization for medical evacuations from Gaza to Jordan, plus $150,000 (£111,000) to the Save the Children's work in Gaza.