Things aren’t looking good for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Not only were they allegedly snubbed by King Charles and left without an invitation to spend Christmas with the royal family in Sandringham, but their charity organization is also facing fresh scrutiny following another wave of staff departures. But unlike many previous exits, which were seemingly voluntary, these latest departures appear to be actual layoffs, with three staffers reportedly let go just before Christmas – ouch!
Prince Harry and Meghan launched the Archewell Foundation in 2020, shortly after they stepped down as senior royals. The charity focuses on initiatives aimed at uplifting communities, supporting parents of children affected by online harm, and backing women’s causes, among other efforts.
According to multiple reports, these layoffs seem to coincide with a major rebrand of the charity. Keep reading for more info…
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Archewell Faces Ongoing Staff Turnover
As per the Daily Mail, the former employees were let go just over a week ago, and were reportedly told their layoffs were "because the charity was closing." This follows a string of departures earlier this year, including former press secretaries Kyle Boulia and Charlie Gipson, as well as two additional staff members who left over the summer. In total, more than 20 employees are now said to have left the Sussexes' Archewell organization since its launch.
The rapid turnover raised eyebrows among fans, critics and royal commentators earlier this year. Royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital back in June: "This stands as another indication of the dysfunction and instability within their household."
Fordwich went on to suggest that the couple's long history of high-profile exits reinforces long-standing concerns about how they operate professionally. "Highly qualified professionals from many top-notch firms have previously struggled to thrive under the Sussexes. This latest bloodbath serves as solid confirmation," she added.
Another insider echoed those concerns, telling Hello! at the time: "Meghan and Harry have hired some of the most incredible people at the top of their fields, yet somehow none of them ever work out."
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle's Spokesperson Addresses Staff Changes And Archewell Rebrand
One of the employees reportedly let go just before Christmas was the charity's director of programs and operations, Kristin Slevin. According to tax filings obtained by the Daily Mail, Slevin earned a salary of $146K.
A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan initially denied that any staffing changes had taken place when the news first broke. However, they then acknowledged that the rebrand (more on this down below) would involve some staff changes, while declining to discuss specifics...
"Currently, the same full team remains in place," the spokesperson began, before saying: "This move does mean that some staff redundancies are inevitable, particularly with junior admin roles."
They added: "We will not be discussing these personnel details further, other than to say that we are honored to have worked with incredibly talented and caring people who dedicate themselves to helping others."
Archewell Foundation Changes Its Name To Archewell Philanthropies
Prince Harry and Meghan announced last week that they have changed the name of their Archewell Foundation – originally named after their son, Prince Archie – on the charity's fifth anniversary. They revealed it will now be called Archewell Philanthropies.
"Five years ago, The Archewell Foundation was born from a simple but profound belief: to show up and do good," an impact report read, according to multiple reports. "Today, as we mark our fifth anniversary, that mission remains as vital and urgent as ever – now carried forward through Archewell Philanthropies, a growing platform designed to deepen and expand how we serve communities around the world," it went on.
The statement concluded: "What began as a commitment to compassion has evolved into a powerful force for meaningful change, particularly in championing global mental wellness across our communities."
According to The Mirror, in a separate statement issued to mark the rebrand, a spokeswoman for Prince Harry and Meghan said: "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."
A Closer Look At Archewell's Finances
The rebrand comes at a time of increased scrutiny over the organization's financial trajectory, which has unsurprisingly raised eyebrows online.
In 2024, the charity reportedly saw a significant drop in contributions. Donations totaled about $2.1M, while expenses climbed to roughly $5.1M, with around $1.25M distributed in grants.
Financial records from previous years also show an inconsistent pattern. In 2023, the charity brought in $5.73M and spent $3.3M. In 2022, however, expenses once again outweighed income, with spending exceeding revenue by several hundred thousand dollars, suggesting financial challenges that have continued into more recent years.
Fan Comments
As we previously mentioned, there has been a lot of discussion online. "In my view it's always a bit shady when a foundation spends more on expenses than what they give to charity," wrote one Page Six reader. "What precisely was this charity being expensed? Harry and Meghan's endeavours all seem to end in failure," the same reader added.
"This is just a re-brand so that public and financial scrutiny will be reduced. They now get to continue their performative lifestyle without all of the stuffy constraints of an actual charity," thought a second, as a third chimed in: "So shady. They'll move under a fiscal sponsor to hide their dealings from a separate 990 filing. Who would give them one cent?"
"The hits just keep on coming. These people change their employees like most people change their socks," slammed a fourth. "And people say Harry and Meghan have no abilities. They certainly are gifted in making their employees choose unemployment over obeying unquestioningly," quipped a fifth, as a sixth added: "Failure. They are exceptionally good at failure."
"Grifters gonna grift. How much of their own money have they used for the foundation/philanthropy?" asked a seventh, adding: "Only the donations are tracked. A useless charity that only pays Megain's outrageous expenses. Can't wait until the IRS gets ahold of them." "And no one is surprised! They aren't getting any Usaid money anymore! So they have to let people go!" exclaimed an eighth.
