Back in April, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced that their new foundation, Archewell, would help them carry out their charitable work after leaving the royal family, but due to the pandemic, they cautioned that it would be some time before they began promoting their work. Though the couple inked a deal with Netflix in September and set up a website for Archewell in October, the true scope of their plans for the charity was only hinted at throughout the engagements and video calls they carried out for most of the year. On Sunday, the couple announced Archewell’s first major charitable contribution—a partnership with chef José Andrés and his non-profit, World Central Kitchen, which focuses on combating food insecurity and feeding the hungry after major disasters.
In a statement, Meghan and Harry praised the non-profit and explained why they were interested in the partnership. “The health of our communities depends on our ability to connect to our shared humanity,” they said, according to Bloomberg. “When we think about Chef Andrés and his incredible team at World Central Kitchen, we’re reminded that even during a year of unimaginable hardship, there are so many amazing people willing — and working tirelessly — to support each other. World Central Kitchen inspires us through compassion in action.”
Bloomberg reports that Archewell’s funds will go towards constructing four Community Relief Centers, permanent community centers that can be activated as emergency kitchens during a disaster. “We are more energized than ever to continue this vital work and we’re proud that it will be hand in hand with Archewell Foundation and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” Andrés said in an email to the outlet. “I have come to know both of them well, and believe that their values are directly aligned with what we stand for at World Central Kitchen.”
Last week, the couple also announced that they were starting an audio-production company called Archewell Audio and would soon host a podcast in partnership with Spotify. The first episode, a holiday special, is set to debut later this month.
A friend recently told Vanity Fair that the pandemic did mean that Meghan and Harry didn’t get to spend as much time on the ground as they had hoped this year, but they are looking forward to what comes next. “I think they are very excited about what’s to come,” the friend said. “There’s so much people didn’t expect them to be able to do, but they are seeing out the year in their new home with Archie with a very significant deal with Netflix under their belts. They actually feel excited about the potential and standing on their own two feet.”
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