The couple have spoken on their futureEllie Fry Assistant Head of Features (Audience), Emma Mackenzie Lifestyle Writer and Lucy Farrell Trends/Showbiz/Lifestyle Editor
13:55, 19 Dec 2025
Harry and Meghan have spoken on their future in a joint statement(Image: Getty Images)
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have revealed a major announcement regarding their “next chapter” in a rare joint statement. Speaking about the future of their most treasured charitable endeavour, Meghan and Harry have announced 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 left exasperated after Buckingham Palace blocked their ambitions to expand their “SussexRoyal” brand, reports the Mirror.
Following the late Queen’s firm stance that a “half in, half out” arrangement was off the table – preventing the couple from leveraging their working Royal positions for financial benefit – the pair resigned from their duties entirely, opting instead to pursue charitable and commercial ventures across the pond. Among their earliest initiatives was the establishment of their Archewell project.
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.”
The couple are re-branding their charity organisation(Image: Netflix)
This year, the foundation provided assistance to youngsters impacted by conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine whilst championing the ethical advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). The Archewell Foundation derives its moniker 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.”
Harry and Meghan helping to bake cookies with their children ahead of Thanksgiving (Image: Archewell Foundation)
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.”
Meghan Markle’s Netflix show has been widely panned by critic(Image: Netflix)
This news emerges amidst a transformative period for Harry and Meghan, with the Duchess refocusing her career towards television. The former Suits star has re-entered the world of influencing with the reactivation of her personal Instagram account, launched two versions of her Netflix lifestyle and cooking programme, With Love Meghan, expanded her lifestyle brand As Ever, and is even slated to appear in an upcoming film.
As reported by Variety, she will make a cameo as herself in the Amazon MGM Studios production Close Personal Friends, featuring Lily Collins, Brie Larson, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding.
Just half a year after stepping back from their Royal duties, Meghan and Harry inked an exclusive partnership with Netflix, reportedly valued at around $100million (£74million). Come August, the Sussexes renewed their arrangement with the streaming platform – though with a notable modification.
The pair secured a “first-look agreement” instead of a comprehensive contract, meaning the entertainment behemoth can approve or reject their projects before others see them, yet isn’t bound to broadcast the content. Industry insiders widely viewed this fresh arrangement as something of a step backwards.
Meghan stole the show with surprise appearancei n Paris(Image: Getty Images for Balenciaga)
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 recent Holiday Celebration instalment of With Love, Meghan received predominantly harsh critiques following its 3 December debut. “This Christmas is make-or-break time for Meghan because there are two main problems – money and profile,” he said.
“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, as his roster of official roles diminished when he stepped back from the Sentebale charity in March amidst 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 queried.
“There’s just no easy solution to the problem they have.”
Royal historian Marlene Koenig suggests that the Duke of Sussex continues to grapple with finding his footing beyond the golden gates of Buckingham Palace, particularly in terms of “trying to be a breadwinner” for his wife and children. According to the expert, the father of two, who previously served as a soldier in Afghanistan, could be missing out on professional fulfilment.
Speaking to US Weekly, Ms Koenig said: “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 further added: “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 initiative has faced its share of scandals. In 2024, the charity was branded “delinquent” in the US and commanded to halt all fundraising and expenditure. Archewell had permitted its registration fees to expire, as detailed in an official correspondence from California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta.
The organisation was classified as “delinquent” in the registry of charities and fundraisers owing to its failure to submit its annual report and registration fees.The correspondence stated the charity was, at that point, deemed “not in good standing” and was barred from conducting activities requiring registration, such as soliciting or distributing charitable funds.
It further noted at the time: “The organisation may also be subject to penalties, and its registration may be suspended or revoked.”
A source close to the couple revealed that officials submitted the paperwork punctually with a cheque, but it was not processed. 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.”
Within days of the controversy emerging, a spokesperson for Archewell stated that the foundation “diligently investigated the situation” and confirmed that it was “fully compliant and in good standing”.
They declared: “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 out and the charity is no longer labelled as ‘delinquent’.”
The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, commented at the time that the couple were dealing with “a very typical technical issue around paperwork” and an “unfair” backlash because of it.