The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made a rare joint statement to confirm a change to the name of their charity – and the name change will take effect from 2025
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made a major declaration regarding their “next chapter” in a rare joint announcement. Addressing the future of their most treasured work initiative, Meghan and Harry have revealed that their joint charity, the Archewell Foundation, will be rebranded as Archewell Philanthropies – five years after its establishment.
Prior to the Sussexes’ self-imposed exile from Royal duties and their relocation to America in 2020, they had been thwarted by Buckingham Palace in their attempts to develop their “SussexRoyal” brand.
Following the late Queen’s clear stance that a “half in, half out” arrangement was not available – meaning the pair couldn’t exploit their working Royal status for financial benefit – the couple withdrew from official duties entirely, choosing instead to pursue charitable and commercial ventures across the pond.
Among their earliest undertakings was their Archewell initiative. Confirming the rebrand, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan stated: “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.”
This year, the foundation provided funding for youngsters impacted by conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine whilst championing the ethical advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), reports the Mirror. The Archewell Foundation derives its name from “arche”, the ancient Greek term signifying “source of action”, combined with “well”, representing “a plentiful source or supply, a place we go to dig deep”.
Responding to the announcement, celebrity PR expert Mayah Riaz shared with the Mirror: “From a branding perspective, this is a smart and I’d say quite deliberate evolution rather than a reinvention. Moving from ‘Foundation’ to ‘Philanthropies’ signals scale, maturity and longevity. In branding terms, it’s a way of future proofing the name as their work expands beyond individual projects.”
She continued: “I also think there is a reputational message here. ‘Philanthropies’ feels more global, more institutional and less personal. That can be helpful for Harry and Meghan at this stage, as it shifts the focus away from them as personalities and more towards impact, outcomes and credibility. It positions Archewell as something that could stand on its own, even without their names being front and centre.
“Timing wise, the five year mark matters. In celebrity and public figure branding, five years is often when you either quietly fade or consciously level up. This feels like them saying they’re in this for the long haul. The biggest takeaway for me is that this is about control of narrative.
“By reframing the brand now, they are defining the next chapter on their own terms. It’s less about legacy tied to royal titles and more about building a global social impact brand that reflects who they are as a family and as operators in the US and beyond.”
The announcement arrives amidst a year of significant transformation for Harry and Meghan, with the Duchess refocusing her career towards a return to television. The former Suits actress has re-entered the influencer scene with the revival of her personal Instagram account, launched two versions of her Netflix lifestyle and cooking show, With Love Meghan, expanded her lifestyle brand As Ever, and is even slated to appear in an upcoming film.
According to Variety, she will make a cameo as herself in the Amazon MGM Studios production Close Personal Friends, which stars Lily Collins, Brie Larson, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding. Just six months after stepping back from their Royal duties, Meghan and Harry secured an exclusive partnership with Netflix, reportedly valued at around $100million (£74million).
This August, the Sussexes renewed their arrangement with the streaming platform – but with a notable modification. The pair agreed to a “first-look deal” instead of a comprehensive contract, meaning the entertainment behemoth can approve or reject their projects before competitors, though they’re not obligated to broadcast the content.
Numerous industry insiders viewed this revised agreement as something of a step backwards. Royal biographer Tom Bower recently revealed to The Mirror that Meghan is under enormous strain regarding her television ventures and lifestyle enterprise, As Ever, after her most recent Holiday Celebration instalment of With Love, Meghan received predominantly unfavourable critiques following its December 3 debut.
“This Christmas is make-or-break time for Meghan because there are two main problems – money and profile,” he explained. “Her lifestyle shows are clearly not taking off.
“She put on a great show in terms of looking great and pretending nothing is wrong, but the reality is it’s not a great success, to say the least. It hinges on how much Meghan can sell at Christmas and if it doesn’t sell, she has a real problem.
“Are people prepared to pay $32 for a jar of honey from the Duchess of Sussex? If it doesn’t work this Christmas, they have a real problem about what they will do in 2026.”
The author also portrays Harry as a “declining asset” within the family, noting how his portfolio of official responsibilities dwindled when he withdrew from the Sentebale charity in March following a significant boardroom dispute. “The fate of Sentebale is OK without him, so what’s he got? The next Invictus Games is in 2027, so what is he going to do for a year?” Tom said.
“There’s just no easy solution to the problem they have.” Meanwhile, Royal historian Marlene Koenig believes the Duke of Sussex continues to face a “struggle” in establishing his identity outside the Palace walls, particularly when it comes to “trying to be a breadwinner” for his wife and children.
The expert suggests the father of two, who previously served as a soldier in Afghanistan, might be lacking professional satisfaction. Ms Koenig told US Weekly: “I’m not sure if Harry has regrets about leaving, as he is determined to build a new life in the US.
“But he hasn’t been entirely successful, especially in terms of earning money for the family. That seems to have fallen on Meghan.”
She continued: “He was always expected to play a supportive but not a supporting role. He may be comfortable in his California home with his wife and two adorable children, but what he hasn’t found yet is the comfort of a success outside at home.” The Sussexes’ Archewell project has certainly had its share of controversies. In 2024, the charity was labelled as “delinquent” in the US and ordered to halt all fundraising and spending activities.
According to an official letter from California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, Archewell had let its registration fees fall by the wayside. The charity was marked as “delinquent” in the registry of charities and fundraisers due to its failure to submit its annual report and registration fees.
The letter stated that at that point, the charity was considered “not in good standing” and was prohibited from carrying out activities requiring registration, such as soliciting or distributing charitable funds. It further warned: “The organisation may also be subject to penalties, and its registration may be suspended or revoked.”
A source close to the couple claimed that officials had submitted the paperwork on time with a cheque, but it hadn’t been cashed. They told The Mirror: “As soon as the foundation learnt of the problem, they immediately issued another cheque.
Harry and Meghan’s team hope this will quickly resolve the issue. “Just days after the scandal erupted, a spokesperson for Archewell confirmed that the foundation had “diligently investigated the situation” and assured that it was “fully compliant and in good standing.”
They stated: “Due payments were made promptly and in accordance with the IRS’s processes and procedures. Furthermore, all necessary paperwork had been filed by the Foundation without error or wrongdoing.”
The issue was swiftly sorted and the charity is no longer labelled as “delinquent”. The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, stated at the time that the couple faced “a very typical technical issue around paperwork” and an “unfair” pile-on because of it.
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