Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are turning the page and inviting their children to help write the next chapter. On Friday, Dec. 19, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that their Archewell Foundation is officially becoming Archewell Philanthropies, marking the organization’s fifth anniversary and signaling a meaningful evolution in how the couple approaches charitable work.
The shift is both reflective and forward-looking, rooted in what they have built so far and energized by what comes next, especially as a family. “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 organization said in a statement.
From Foundation to Philanthropies
The renaming to Archewell Philanthropies reflects a broader reframing of the Sussexes’ charitable work. Rather than operating as a tightly managed, standalone foundation tied closely to Harry and Meghan’s daily involvement, the new model positions their philanthropy as a long-term, evolving family enterprise.
A message on the organization’s new website underscores that intention. “After five beautiful years, the Archewell Foundation is becoming Archewell Philanthropies. This charitable entity allows the couple and their children to expand upon their global philanthropic endeavors as a family.”
In practical terms, the move to a “philanthropies” structure offers more flexibility and reduces administrative burden. According to PEOPLE, Archewell Philanthropies will continue to operate within a nonprofit framework through a fiscal sponsorship model. An established 501©(3) organization will handle compliance, finances, and global grantmaking, while Harry and Meghan remain focused on guiding the mission, setting priorities, and choosing the partnerships and initiatives they support.
It is a setup commonly used by global charitable projects that want to grow without getting bogged down in paperwork, and it aligns with the couple’s emphasis on impact over infrastructure.
Teaching Archie and Lilibet to Show Up and Do Good
Perhaps the most striking element of this evolution is how intentionally it creates space for Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. The Sussexes have long spoken about modeling values for their children, but Archewell Philanthropies formalizes that philosophy into the organization’s identity.
Earlier this fall, Harry and Meghan offered a rare glimpse into how that looks in real life. In November, Archie and Lilibet joined their parents during a partnership with Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles, helping prepare meals for the local community. Photos from the event showed the siblings on the packaging line, rolling balls of dough alongside their parents, a low-key but powerful introduction to hands-on service.
The moment captured something central to the Sussexes’ approach. Philanthropy is not just a concept or a press release. It is something you do, together, sleeves rolled up and flour on your hands.
Five Years of Archewell
The announcement arrives alongside the release of the Sussexes’ 2025 Impact Report and an accompanying video highlighting the communities, programs, and partners they have worked with over the past five years.
Archewell was first announced in early 2020, shortly after Harry and Meghan revealed their decision to step back from senior royal roles. As they charted an independent path in the United States, they introduced Archewell as their new charitable vehicle, inspired by the Greek word “arche,” meaning “source of action,” and as a nod to their then-infant son Archie.
The Archewell Foundation formally launched later that year, becoming the philanthropic pillar of the couple’s post-royal life. At the time, Harry and Meghan were settling into Montecito with their young family and building out a new framework that also included Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio.
From the start, Archewell centered on compassion in action, guided by the couple’s mantra to “show up, do good.” Over the past half-decade, their work has focused on community support, mental health, gender equity, digital well-being, and disaster relief, partnering with organizations such as World Central Kitchen, The Mission Continues, Women for Afghan Women, and the Center for Humane Technology.
A Busy Year and a Broader Vision
The renaming caps off a year of expansion on multiple fronts. Meghan launched her lifestyle brand, As Ever, and debuted her Netflix series "With Love, Meghan," while Harry continued his advocacy work, including his ongoing commitment to the Invictus Games and international engagements.
Against that backdrop, Archewell Philanthropies feels less like a pivot and more like a natural next step. It reflects a couple thinking in decades, not headlines, and building something designed to outlast any single project or moment. By bringing Archie and Lilibet into the fold, Harry and Meghan are making a quiet but powerful statement about legacy.