Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s charity faces delinquency issues

Meghan Markle, left, speaks next to her husband Prince Harry, right, during, the Giant of Africa Foundation at the Dream Big Basketball clinic in Lagos Nigeria, Sunday, May 12, 2024. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are in Nigeria to champion the Invictus Games, which Prince Harry founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s charity, the Archewell Foundation, has been declared “delinquent” and “ordered to stop” from raising or soliciting money, international media reported.

The California’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers released a notice to Archewell, a Beverly Hills-based nonprofit organization founded in 2020 by the couple shortly after they stepped back from their duties as senior members of Britain’s royal family.

A check at the online portal of California’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers showed that Archewell had been marked as “delinquent” as of May 1, 2024, but it’s delinquent status has been set since  February 2, 2023 and then in January 17, 2024.

Archewell Foundation’s delinquency status at California Registry of Charities and Fundraisers

The notice further stated that “failure to submit required annual report(s) and/or renewal fees.”

“An organization that is listed as delinquent is not in good standing and is prohibited from engaging in conduct for which registration is required, including soliciting or disbursing charitable funds,” outlined the letter.

“The organization may also be subject to penalties, and its registration may be suspended or revoked by the Registry. Once you submit the delinquent record(s), you will be notified of the amount of any late fees that are owed,” it added.

The Registry further pointed out on its website that when a charitable organization failed to remedy its delinquency, the Registry status will be further changed to “suspended,” and/or “revoked”.

However, according to various reports, citing close sources, the Archewell Foundation filed a check on time for the renewal fees, but it was not received by the registry. After receiving the delinquent notice, the charity mailed a new check that is expected to solve their standing in the state, as the fee will reflect within the next seven business days.

READ: Meghan Markle reportedly eyeing a comeback to acting

‘Cultural force’

Following their exit as members of the royal family, Prince Harry and Markle founded the non-profit foundation in 2020, with the motto, “one act of compassion at a time.”

“Our mission is simple: show up, do good. We meet the moment by showing up, taking action, and using our unparalleled spotlight to uplift and unite communities—local and global—through acts of service and compassion,” its website says.

Their charity work in defining the “cultural force of the 21st century and by supporting a growing community of partner organizations, fueling systematic cultural change,” extended as they launched their production company, Archewell Productions.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex previously said that the Archewell Foundation was inspired by the Greek word “arche,” meaning “source of action,” which predates the name of their five-year-old son, Archie Harrison.

Markle and Prince Harry got married in 2018. Aside from Archie, they also have a two-year-old daughter, Lilibet “Lili” Diana.

We would love to hear more from you! Help us improve your reading experience by answering this survey.