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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly funnelled hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrat-linked causes, including the nonprofit operated by Joe Biden’s daughter Ashley in 2023.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. (Reuters/File)
British royal couple Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, who are currently living in the United States, have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars from their Archewell Foundation to Democratic Party-linked causes, according to a report, raising speculation over their involvement in US politics.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were found to have spent big bucks on high-level Democrat-aligned sources, the New York Post reported citing public records, including hiring a ‘disinformation expert’ who worked at a company involved in every high-profile US election since the 1990s.
Markle and Harry’s California-based Archewell Foundation started in 2020, donated $146,000 in 2023 to Jiore Craig, an independent media strategist who has been called the Democrats’ “go-to” for “countering disinformation”.
Furthermore, the group also donated $25,000 to the Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn, where Craig joined the board in 2024 and an additional $120,000 was further donated to Craig in 2022, as per public records.
‘It’s Actually Outrageous’
Craig, 33, previously worked at Washington DC research firm Greenberg, Quinlan and Rosner. Considered an expert on elections, Craig worked her way up to being Senior Director of Digital Strategy by 2016 and then became Vice President of the company between 2018 and 2021.
The firm’s website boasts of helping Bill Clinton become President in 1992 and then “helped our clients campaign, win, govern and win again”. The company also helped counter narratives about Joe Biden’s advanced age and negative remarks about his family.
Moreover, Archewell also donated $90,000 to Markup News Inc., a New York-based non-profit also funded by Craigslist founder Craig Newmark and controversial billionaire and Democratic mega-donor George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.
However, the charity’s biggest contribution of $250,000 was given to the Women’s Wellness Space, a Pennsylvania-based charity set up by Ashley Biden, daughter of former President Biden, in 2023. The charity’s mission was to help women impacted by trauma. Archewell also funnelled out $155,050 to Herlihy Loughran, a firm run by two former Buckingham Palace aides, Beth Herlihy and Clara Loughran, for “programmatic strategic services.”
The donations raised eyebrows over the royal couple’s involvement in US politics. Nile Gardiner, a fellow at conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation, demanded a Congressional probe into Archewell’s donations to Democratic-linked causes.
“Harry and Meghan still retain royal titles and should not be engaging in any way in political activity,” said Gardiner. “It’s actually outrageous.”
What This Means For Royal Couple?
The revelations made by the report threaten to further widen the divide between Harry and his family in Britain after his brother Prince William recently met with US President Donald Trump. The President has expressed admiration for the British royal family.
Additionally, Britain’s King Charles III is also said by the British press to have maintained a good relationship with Trump since he was last in office in 2020 and the president has expressed his support for both.
However, a spokesperson for the royal couple emphasised that the Duke and Duchess did not endorse any candidate in the 2024 presidential election and said it was “misguided” to suggest that they were trying to earn favour with the Democratic Party simply based on donations to Ashley Biden’s nonprofit.
“The Duke and Duchess are committed to investing in people and initiatives that truly make a difference,” the spokesperson said.
Meghan Markle’s political ambitions have long been rumoured, with her and Harry flying to New York to meet high-profile Democrats including Governor Kathy Hochul and then-mayor Bill DeBlasio in 2021. She and Harry also reportedly held a “secret summit” video call with California Governor Gavin Newsom the same year.
Notably, Meghan Markle has expressed her dislike for President Trump, and the feeling is mutual, as Trump has previously criticised Meghan. Trump recently said he had no intention of deporting Prince Harry from the United States or pursuing his visa case, as he believes the former royal already has “enough problems” with his “terrible” wife.
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
