It’s official — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have split from their shared charity with Prince William and Kate Middleton. While the split has been rumored for months, Kensington Palace shared the formal announcement on Thursday that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have exited The Royal Foundation to start their own charitable organization. But don’t worry; the separation reportedly doesn’t mean trouble is brewing between the two houses. Per the palace, it’s a natural progression meant to better “align” with each house’s roles and objectives in the royal family.
A statement released on Thursday outlined the full details of the official separation, according to Entertainment Tonight. “The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex has today announced the conclusions of a review into its structure, and how it will best support Their Royal Highnesses with future charitable activity. Later this year The Royal Foundation will become the principal charitable and philanthropic vehicle for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will establish their own new charitable foundation with transitional operating support from The Royal Foundation,” explained the statement.
Kensington Palace went on to elaborate that, though Harry and Meghan will no longer be a part of The Royal Foundation, they plan to “work together on projects in the future, including on the foundation’s mental health program, “Heads Together.”
Harry & Meghan are splitting from the Royal Foundation, the charitable trust orginally set up by William and Harry. The palace says it’s because the royal couples have “divergent roles” ahead. Last year all 4 were at a foundation event talking about their future plans together pic.twitter.com/5RDnSKZJSO
— Rhiannon Mills (@SkyRhiannon) June 20, 2019
Essentially, The Royal Foundation will continue much as it has, simply without Harry and Meghan involved in the direct implementation of its programs and outreach. “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wish to build on The Foundation’s past successes, continuing programs such as ‘Heads Up,’ the new mental health campaign delivered in partnership with the FA, ‘United for Wildlife,’ which runs a global taskforce tackling the illegal wildlife trade, and ‘Mentally Healthy Schools,’ which supports teachers and staff improve child mental health,” the statement said, noting that Will and Kate plan to announce new initiatives later in the year as well.
Although the split will undoubtedly fuel the near-constant rumors of a rift between Will and Harry (and/or Meghan and Kate), Kensington Palace points toward the princes’ shifting responsibilities in the royal family — at 93 years old, Queen Elizabeth is reportedly preparing Prince Charles to assume the throne.
When that happens, William’s responsibilities will grow. It’s natural that the two houses would begin to prepare for that eventuality. Or as Kensington Palace puts it, “These changes are designed to best complement the work and responsibilities of Their Royal Highnesses as they prepare for their future roles, and to better align their charitable activity with their new households.”
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