The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, have reportedly raised funds for their charitable organisation by privately auctioning access to themselves to the highest bidder. It has been revealed that tickets for a dinner with the couple have commanded prices of around $100,000, equivalent to £75,000 per plate.
Fundraising Through Exclusive Access
The Sussexes have utilised the fundraising platform CharityBuzz to generate money for their Archewell Foundation, which they founded in 2020. A source explained that Archewell partnered with the company to support a fundraising dinner held on World Mental Health Day. While such paid access to a working royal would be considered a major breach of protocol, Harry and Meghan have not been working royals since their departure in 2020.
A spokesman for Archewell confirmed the partnership, stating: 'We have partnered with numerous fundraising partners over the years and CharityBuzz has been one of them.' The access to the couple appears not to have been publicly advertised on the CharityBuzz website, suggesting it may have been offered privately to select high-net-worth individuals. CharityBuzz has raised $650 million (£485 million) for charity over the last two decades, working with celebrities like George Clooney and Beyoncé.
Archewell's Finances and Restructuring
The Archewell Foundation, the hub of the couple's philanthropic work, is undergoing significant internal changes. A spokesman acknowledged 'staff restructuring' is underway, commenting: 'Yes, we are making some Archewell changes, and we'll be sharing exciting developments regarding how we will deliver our philanthropic work moving forward.'
Financial records show the foundation gave away more than £1 million to charitable causes last year. Its income largely stemmed from a single, substantial grant of £3,947,148 from Fidelity Charitable, a US-based fund, with the remaining income coming from five anonymous donors.
Other Entertainment Highlights
In other celebrity news, actor Timothée Chalamet and girlfriend Kylie Jenner have been making coordinated orange appearances to promote his new film, Marty Supreme, a biopic of ping-pong hustler Marty Reisman. Meanwhile, Tom Hiddleston reprises his role as Jonathan Pine in the second series of The Night Manager, premiering on BBC1 on New Year's Day, with the director noting his remarkable composure in hot climates.
Elsewhere, Davina McCall's ex-husband, Matthew Robertson, has revealed he nearly took his own life following their divorce and the collapse of his business during the pandemic. He now runs an organisation, Momentum Men, focused on men's mental health through outdoor activities. Singer Lily Allen has also spoken candidly about the challenges of touring sober following the release of her new album.
