Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have firmly rejected recent allegations of financial misconduct surrounding their Archewell Foundation, calling the claims “ridiculous.” Allegations surfaced that millions of dollars were missing from the foundation’s latest tax return, but sources close to the couple have staunchly defended their transparency and integrity.
The controversy broke out when reported the Daily Mail that more than £4.5 million ($6 million) in grants given to the foundation were missing from its latest tax returns. However, the foundation clarified that its most recent 990 tax form only covered donations received from January to December 2022, and any contributions made in 2023 will appear on future reports.
“It is very unfair to do this to a charity when they have done everything correctly,” said a source close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. the express. “The claims are ridiculous because they (the Sussexes) have always been honest and transparent about their finances.”
The allegations come just months after the California Attorney General’s Office briefly labeled Archewell a “delinquent” for allegedly failing to file his annual report. This bug, however, was quickly resolved. Gov. Gavin Newsom publicly supported the foundation, emphasizing that the delinquency was due to the lack of a $200 renewal check, not any irregularity. “It was a paperwork issue that was grossly overstated,” Newsom said.
Despite this, the “missing millions” narrative once again put the foundation under scrutiny. According to one source, “Something like this can be very damaging, especially since it is extremely misleading.”
The scrutiny comes as Prince Harry embarks on a series of high-profile trips without Meghan. Recently, she received a standing ovation at the Clinton Global Initiative summit, where she spoke passionately about protecting children from the dangers of social media. She is also planning to attend the WellChild Awards in the UK, an event she greatly appreciates and said: “It is a real privilege to recognize such extraordinary people.”
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, tension is reportedly growing between the Sussexes and Netflix. Insiders revealed that the streaming giant is frustrated with Harry’s upcoming “Polo” series, which focuses on his friend Nacho Figueras, rather than Harry himself. A source shared, “People want personal things,” adding that the show has been dubbed “the Nacho Show” and has disappointed Netflix executives who were expecting more from their $100 million deal with the couple.
Despite the current challenges, Harry and Meghan remain committed to their charitable work, and their Archewell Foundation continues to focus on social impact and mental health initiatives.