The duke and duchess of Sussex have announced they are launching a new charitable foundation named Archewell.
It will replace their SussexRoyal brand, as the pair have officially stepped back from their royal duties and are not able to use the word “royal”.
In June 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan had announced that they would be leaving The Royal Foundation to create their own charity.
Details about the project were reported in the Daily Telegraph, which obtained paperwork the couple filed in the US showing they were looking to create their own charity.
In response, the duke and duchess said: “Like you, our focus is on supporting efforts to tackle the global Covid-19 pandemic but faced with this information coming to light, we felt compelled to share the story of how this came to be”.
“Before SussexRoyal, came the idea of Arche – the Greek word meaning source of action. We connected to this concept for the charitable organisation we hoped to build one day, and it became the inspiration for our son’s name. To do something of meaning, to do something that matters.
“Archewell is a name that combines an ancient word for strength and action, and another that evokes the deep resources we each must draw upon. We look forward to launching Archewell when the time is right.”
The couple had previously published a statement saying they would “work to become financially independent” and that this new arrangement would allow them “the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity”.
The Royal Foundation was set up in 2009 by Prince William and Prince Harry and works on a range of projects, including the Invictus Games, a sporting event for sick and injured service people, and mental health campaign Heads Together.
The new charity’s projects are expected to include initiatives on the environment and support for children and families.
Prince Harry’s charitable work has focused on supporting veterans and people serving in the Armed Forces, on sports and conservation, while Meghan has been working on gender equality and international development. In 2015, she became the UN Women's advocate for women’s political participation and leadership.
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