Prince Harry's eye-watering £1.1 million donation to Children in Need has come under scrutiny, as it has been claimed the money was drawn from charitable funds originally left by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. The news of the donation came after Prince Harry's last visit to the UK in September and was described as his own money rather than funds drawn from his Archewell Foundation.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Diary Editor Richard Eden claims the money was gifted by the Glen Beg Foundation, rather than by Harry himself. The foundation was established in 1999, two years after Diana's death, and was set up using funds from the Princess of Wales Charities Trust. The Trust was set up by Diana in 1981, the same year she married then-Prince Charles. It was financed by generous donations from companies and organisations that she visited or represented. When she died, the trust was split equally between Harry and Prince William.
Both Harry and William's charities were named after hills on the private Balmoral Estate in Scotland: William's is called The Broad Cairn Foundation, while Harry's is the Glen Beg Foundation. The update came after Harry said his £1.1 million donation came from his own money rather than his Archewell Foundation and described it as an 'investment in futures', while urging others to step up.
Endless suggestions continue to be made about Harry and Meghan's finances as they fund their lives and security in the US, deal with the Duke's numerous legal cases, and face reductions in streaming platform deals. As a result, the huge donation has been carefully examined. The donation came as Harry visited Nottingham to highlight how the city has 'always held a special place in the hearts of those who understand the true meaning of community'.
The Duke hailed local organisations that 'collectively prove what becomes possible when communities step up, commit to change, and create opportunity in ways that create lasting impact'. A statement shared on the Duke and Duchess's Archewell Foundation also highlighted the challenges faced by those who have witnessed youth violence in the area, saying it still remains 'a critical issue that cannot be ignored'.
Harry referred to his Children in Need donation as an 'investment [that] represents more than charitable giving,' citing words from his speech while there, when he said: 'It's belief in young people's potential, in their future, and in the power of communities like Nottingham to lead the way.' A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was contacted for comment.
