In a surprising turn of events, the Archewell Foundation, established by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their royal departure in 2020, faced a legal hurdle in California.
Despite being treated like royalty during their three-day visit to Nigeria, the couple’s trip was overshadowed by a judge’s unexpected decision regarding their nonprofit organization.
According to People magazine, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been ordered to cease fundraising and expenditure activities for their Archewell Foundation. This directive came after the foundation was declared delinquent by the California Registry of Charitable Trusts and Fundraisers.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s foundation
The Archewell Foundation, a 39-year-old Prince Harry and 42-year-old Meghan’s brainchild, aims to uplift and unite communities through acts of compassion.
However, on May 3rd, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a delinquency notice to the foundation for failing to submit required annual reports and/or renewal fees.
The notice stated that a delinquent organization is not in good standing and is barred from conducting activities that require registration, including soliciting or disbursing charitable funds.
The foundation could face penalties, and its registration might be suspended or revoked.
Despite this setback, People magazine reported that the issue stemmed from an administrative error.
An Archewell Foundation source claimed that the necessary paperwork was filed on time, but a sent check was never received.
The foundation became aware of the problem only after the delinquency notice was issued. A new check has been mailed, and the foundation expects the matter to be resolved and reflected in the records within the next seven business days.
The May 3rd letter from the Attorney General’s office indicates that the foundation’s address is registered in Beverly Hills, California, approximately two hours from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s home in Montecito.
This incident has brought attention to the operational challenges even high-profile charitable organizations can face.