California Governor Gavin Newsom has come to the defense of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, calling the concerns over their charity’s “delinquency” status “wildly over-hyped.”
The Archewell Foundation, run by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, was initially flagged as “delinquent” due to a paperwork issue. However, Governor Newsom clarified that this issue was exaggerated and that the foundation is now in good standing.
California Governor Backs Harry and Meghan
While Harry and Meghan were returning from a successful trip to Nigeria, it was reported that their charity received a letter from California’s attorney general about potential unpaid fees or missing forms.
This status could have been serious, as being “delinquent” would prevent the foundation from fundraising and could eventually lead to losing its tax-exempt status. However, it has been confirmed that the charity had submitted the necessary paperwork and paid the required fees on time last year.
At a press conference, Governor Newsom strongly defended the couple, stating that the attention on Archewell was “unbelievable.” He highlighted the charity’s good work, especially in mental health and supporting women and girls.
He said, “I’m here at a behavioral health site, where the Archewell Foundation, run by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, is doing extraordinary work, particularly for women and girls, and notably around mental health. The issue was a technical paperwork matter that was wildly over-hyped.”
Governor Newsom urged media to correct their stories, emphasizing that the problem was a common, minor paperwork issue, and that the foundation is fully compliant and highly respected in California.
An Archewell spokesperson confirmed that they thoroughly investigated the matter and that the foundation is indeed fully compliant. They stated, “Due payments were made promptly, and all necessary paperwork was filed correctly.”
Governor Newsom was at the behavioral health center to announce increased funding to improve the statewide behavioral health system.