Prince Harry And Meghan Brand Staff Cuts 'Inevitable,' As Their Charity Undergoes Major Restructuring

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are speaking out after recent staff cuts. A spokesperson for the royal couple shared that they are rebranding their Archewell charity.

This shift has led to some staff redundancies as the organization adopts a fiscal sponsorship model. The change marks the organization's fifth anniversary and aims to expand its global impact as a family-led nonprofit.

Recent financial filings show higher spending than fundraising, which representatives say reflects intentional use of reserves by Prince Harry and Meghan's charity.

Prince Harry And Meghan's Archewell Charity Undergoes Major Changes, Including 'Inevitable' Staff Cuts

Harry and Meghan Markle are making changes to their charitable operation as they transition the Archewell Foundation into a newly rebranded entity called Archewell Philanthropies, a move that has resulted in a smaller staff structure.

The announcement comes after reports surfaced that several employees had been laid off.

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed to People Magazine, "the move toward a fiscal sponsor operating model does mean that some staff redundancies are inevitable," particularly junior administrative positions.

The spokesperson emphasized that the decision was part of a broader operational change, not a shutdown, and praised the departing staff, calling them "incredibly talented and caring people who dedicate themselves to helping others."

Announced on Dec. 19, the rebrand coincides with Archewell's fifth anniversary and signals a new phase for the organization.

According to the Sussexes, the updated structure allows them 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."

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Position Archewell As A Long-Term Family Philanthropy

Under the new model, Archewell Philanthropies will continue operating as a nonprofit but will function under an established 501(c)(3), which will handle administrative tasks such as compliance, finances, and grantmaking.

Harry and Meghan will remain focused on setting the mission, priorities, and charitable partnerships, giving the organization greater flexibility and room to grow.

The rebrand also reflects the couple's long-term vision of philanthropy as a family endeavor. Statements on the organization's website emphasize the involvement of their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in shaping a legacy centered on service.

That vision has already been visible, including when the children joined their parents to help prepare meals with Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles ahead of Thanksgiving and appeared in Archewell's recent year-end video.

Archewell Says Reported $2.5M Gap Reflects Planned Use Of Reserves, Not Losses

The transition comes amid scrutiny of the charity's latest financial filings, which show that Archewell raised approximately £1.96 million [$2.6 million] over the past year while spending about £3.8 million [$5.1 million], resulting in a reported shortfall of roughly £1.9 million [$2.5 million].

A representative for Harry and Meghan pushed back against characterizations of this as a loss, explaining that the difference reflects a deliberate decision to draw on "existing reserves to fund impact, rather than stockpiling funds."

According to the Daily Express, a spokesperson noted, "this was an intentionally made, missing-aligned decision demonstrating Archewell's commitment to putting dollars to work in the world and maximising social return on past fundraising efforts."

They added: "The Foundation did not lose money – it used previously raised funds for their intended purpose. The Archewell Foundation's approach is to raise funds for specific projects and deploy them as those projects reach key stages of implementation."

Archewell Foundation Donates $500K To Aid Children In Gaza And Ukraine Amid Brief Filing Issue

Archewell Foundation has supported a range of humanitarian initiatives in recent years, including major contributions to aid children affected by conflict.

The charity donated a total of $500,000 toward efforts assisting injured children in Gaza and Ukraine.

These funds were directed toward medical evacuations coordinated by the World Health Organization, and research focused on developing prosthetics for young victims of war-related injuries.

As reported by The Independent, breakdowns of the donations show $200,000 allocated to the WHO to help facilitate medical evacuations from Gaza to Jordan, while $150,000 was given to Save the Children to sustain humanitarian relief operations in Gaza.

Another $150,000 went to the Centre for Blast Injury Studies to support its work on prosthetic development, particularly for children harmed in the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

Prince Harry And Meghan's Charity Came Under Scrutiny Last Year After A 'Delinquent' Tag

In May 2024, Harry and Meghan's foundation briefly appeared on a public registry as "delinquent" after seemingly failing to submit required annual filings and renewal fees.

A notice issued at the time warned that organizations with this status are prohibited from fundraising or distributing charitable funds and could face suspension or revocation of registration.

However, the issue was resolved within days, as it was revealed they had actually done the proper paperwork, and Archewell's status was updated to "current."

California's Department of Justice confirmed that the foundation is in good standing, clarifying that it is fully compliant and authorized to continue its charitable activities.