Over the last year, Prince Harry has made two trips to the U.K. and both times he has gone directly to quarantine with Princess Eugenie, Jack Brooksbank, and their young son August at Frogmore Cottage, the Windsor home he renovated with Meghan Markle before their royal exit. Eugenie and Jack moved in earlier this year, and representatives for Meghan and Harry told People that the couple was “delighted to be able to open up their home to Princess Eugenie and Jack as they start their own family.”
On Wednesday, Eugenie underlined her support for Meghan as well by volunteering to participate in 40X40, a new Archewell mentoring program for women who want to return to the workforce after the pandemic. On her Instagram story, the princess shared an image from the Archewell website, where Meghan announced the initiative with a humorous video featuring Melissa McCarthy. “To celebrate The Duchess of Sussex’s 40th birthday, I am devoting 40 minutes of mentorship or service to a cause I care about,” Eugenie wrote. “Please join me in donating your time. Together, we can contribute to a global wave of compassion and positive change.”
Harry and Eugenie have been close since they were children, but now that the prince’s relationship with Prince Charles and Prince William is rocky, Eugenie is one of his strongest connections to the family. When Harry and Meghan first started dating in the summer of 2016, Eugenie was reportedly one of the first royals to be let in on the secret, and when the news broke in the press, Eugenie and Jack were visiting with them in Canada.
That support has remained strong after Meghan and Harry left their royal roles, including Eugenie’s social media congratulations to her “dear cousins” after the birth of daughter Lili in June. Her participation in the 40X40 program is the first time Eugenie has announced her support for Archewell, the charity founded by Meghan and Harry last year.
Eugenie’s inclusion in the program is a sign of just how much respect Meghan has for her husband’s cousin, who works at the art gallery Hauser & Wirth while also supporting charities of her own. Eugenie is just one of a long list of mentors, featuring luminaries from sports, Hollywood, politics, and activism. It includes Hillary Clinton, Adele, Stella McCartney, Edward Enninfeld, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, Katie Couric, Gabrielle Union, Tracee Ellis Ross, Ibram X. Kendi. Priyanka Chopra Jonas, fashion designer Misha Nonoo and makeup artist Daniel Martin, some of Meghan’s closest friends, are also participating.
Eugenie has also offered support to Harry behind the scenes. When tabloid reports criticized Harry’s decision to write a memoir about the family, a source close to Eugenie and her sister, Princess Beatrice, told the Mail on Sunday that the York daughters understood his reasoning. “They believe Harry’s outspoken remarks may have been triggered because previously his voice and opinions were rarely heard within the royal family,” the source said, adding they think Harry “is finally being listened to.”
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