Harry and Meghan’s Rep Explains Why Archewell Staffers Lost Their Jobs

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent Archewell Foundation changes led to a few staffing cuts.

“The move toward a fiscal sponsor operating model does mean that some staff redundancies are inevitable, particularly with junior admin roles,” an Archewell spokesperson told Us Weekly on Tuesday, December 23. “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.”

The statement comes one day after the Daily Mail reported that three staffers were let go after news broke that the foundation was restructuring. (Us Weekly has reached out to Team Sussex for additional comment.)

Us Weekly confirmed on Friday, December 19, that the Archewell Foundation’s name would be changed to Archewell Philanthropies. The announcement came as Archewell celebrated its five-year anniversary.

“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,” Friday’s announcement about the changes explained.

Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, launched Archewell in 2020 after they officially stepped down from their roles as senior royals and relocated from the U.K. to America.

Archewell is “home to the charitable work” of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the website explains. They will continue to “broaden their global philanthropic efforts for meaningful reach and maximum impact.”

Archewell’s co-executive directors James Holt and Shauna Nep also shared an update on the announcement in an impact report shared on Friday.

“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,” the report read.

They explained the “commitment to compassion” that Archewell had been built on has since evolved into “a powerful force for meaningful change, particularly in championing global mental wellness across our communities.”

It’s been widely reported that while Archewell Philanthropies is still operating as a nonprofit, it will use a fiscal sponsorship model. This allows for charitable projects to achieve global growth.

Along with the impact report released on Friday, Archewell dropped an impact video that featured Harry and Meghan along with their kids, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.

The family teamed up for an Archewell event last month to help Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA) during the Thanksgiving season. The family of four helped package meals for Los Angeles residents who are experiencing food insecurity.

“OBKLA is a community-run nonprofit kitchen that brings people together to prepare and distribute fresh, high-quality meals for Angelenos facing hardship,” the OBKLA website read.

“The meals prepared will reach local schools, shelters, senior centers and other community organizations serving our neighbors in need,” a statement read at the time. “The Archewell Foundation remains committed to putting compassion into action — serving and uplifting communities locally and globally.”