Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s 2020 in review
In a message on the website, the Duke of Sussex said “I am my mother’s son”, with the text posted next to a photograph of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. But royal biographer Angela Levin pointed out there was no mention of the Prince of Wales, who walked Meghan down the aisle and helped the couple move out of Frogmore Cottage when they announced they were leaving the UK for a new life in the USA.
I am my mother’s son. And I am our son’s mother
Ms Levin said the couple also failed to acknowledge any of the upset prompted by their shock departure from royal life a year ago.
Instead, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex set out their goal to “build a better world” and unveiled new partnerships between their foundation and several tech and research-focused organisations to pursue their aims.
Ms Levin wrote in the Telegraph: “There is no mention of his father, the man who saved the couple’s wedding day when he walked Meghan halfway down the aisle, in the absence of her own father.
“When the pair gave up their elaborately renovated home in Frogmore Cottage, Windsor, and moved to the US, it reportedly fell to the Prince of Wales to help them.
“The pair also ask for their devotees to write in with suggestions for how to ‘activate compassion’ around the world.
“Someone should tell them there is no button to press; it is already there in our hearts and souls.”
Meghan and Harry have been accused of snubbing Prince Charles in the New Year message (Image: PA)
The homepage of the Archewell website features a black and white picture of Diana with a young Harry on her shoulders and a photo of a young Meghan with her mother Doria Ragland.
In a joint statement, called a “letter for 2021” which overlays the pictures, the couple said: “I am my mother’s son. And I am our son’s mother. Together we bring you Archewell.
“We believe in the best of humanity. Because we have seen the best of humanity. We have experienced compassion and kindness, From our mothers and strangers alike.
“In the face of fear, struggle and pain, it can be easy to lose sight of this. Together, we can choose courage, healing, and connection. Together, we can choose to put compassion in action.
“We invite you to join us. As we work to build a better world. One act of compassion at a time.”
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Prince Charles was not mentioned in the Sussexes ‘letter to 2021’ (Image: PA)
The Archewell website featured a photo of a young Harry with his mother Diana, Princess of Wales (Image: ARCHEWELL)
Since stepping down as senior royals in March and moving to the US, the couple has been working towards the launch of the website and the philosophy behind Archewell.
Their decision to leave was based as much about financial as personal freedom and the huge sums – thought to be well over £100 million – they have earned from deals with Spotify and Netflix, gives them the capital to pursue their new lifestyle and public goals.
The announcement follows their first Spotify podcast last Tuesday in which their son Archie made his broadcast debut – but the show has yet to break into the streaming service’s top ten most popular podcasts, climbing from 32 to 15.
Social media experts have already speculated that Harry and Meghan will have to draw in large audiences if they are to justify the lucrative contract their production company Archewell Audio signed.
An Archewell spokesman said: “Founded earlier this year by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell uplifts communities through non-profit partnerships and creative activations.
“It’s a place where compassion matters, communities gather, and storytelling is the engine.
“The website has been updated to reflect the work Archewell has undertaken throughout 2020 and to create a place for people and communities around the world to share their stories.”
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Royal family tree (Image: EXPRESS.CO.UK)
Meghan and Harry are pursuing commercial ventures in the USA (Image: PA)
Archewell is expected to focus on the critical issues the couple have been championing during the pandemic and before – racial justice, gender equity, climate change, mental health, online hate speech and empowering diverse voices.
The foundation’s partnership with a range of academic and tech organisations will include financial support.
Harry and Meghan have teamed up with the Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), Stanford Medicine, the San Francisco based Centre for Humane Technology, UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) Centre For Critical Internet Inquiry (C2i2) and the Loveland Foundation.
At the CCARE, Archewell will be supporting its research into techniques for developing compassion and promoting altruism, while the foundation has already been working with the Centre for Humane Technology to create conditions for safer online communities.
The Loveland Foundation supports a number of communities focusing on black women and girls.
