Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Archewell charity has been ordered to stop fundraising by California’s top lawyer.
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Archewell charity has been deemed “delinquent” (Image: Getty)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Archewell charity was sent a brutal letter from California’s top lawyer.
In the letter, California attorney general Rob Bonta branded the organisation “deliquent”, ordering an immediate stop to its fundraising activities.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s philanthropic venture fell into hot water after failing to keep up with registration fees since early May, the scathing letter revealed.
The official correspondence categorises Archewell as “delinquent” within the registry of charitable entities, citing its non-compliance in submitting the required annual report and associated fees.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle launched Archewell in 2020 (Image: Getty)
This status effectively strips the charity of its good standing and bars it from performing any registered functions, including the solicitation or management of charitable contributions.
The attorney general’s notice underscores the consequences of such delinquency, stating: “An organization that is listed as delinquent is not in good standing and is prohibited from engaging in conduct for which registration is required, including soliciting or disbursing charitable funds.
“The organization may also be subject to penalties, and its registration may be suspended or revoked by the Registry.”
In response to this debacle, Archewell must now provide a satisfactory explanation for the delayed payment and settle any incurred late charges.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently toured Nigeria. (Image: Getty)
Despite reports indicating that the foundation has sought an extension, the latest updates from California’s official registry still list Archewell as delinquent, reports the Mirror US.
After stepping back from Royal duties, Harry and Meghan set up their foundation in the US in March 2020, which includes their non-profit work as well as profit-making media ventures such as Archewell Audio and Archewell Productions.
The notice of delinquency arrives on the heels of reports that Archewell Foundation’s revenue plummeted by a staggering $10.4million in just one year.
An insider informed the Express that Archewell officials had indeed submitted all required documents on time, along with a cheque.
The source revealed: “For whatever reason, it has not been cashed. As soon as the foundation learnt of the problem, they immediately issued another cheque. Harry and Meghan’s team hope this will quickly resolve the issue within the next week.”
