The philanthropic vehicle of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the Archewell Foundation, has been plunged into crisis after being officially declared "delinquent" by the state of California.
The shocking designation means the charity is now prohibited from soliciting or disbursing funds after it failed to submit its annual report and associated registration fees. According to a formal notice from California's Attorney General, the foundation is "listed as delinquent" for being "unable to reinforce its charitable assets" due to the non-payment of requisite fees.
The situation has drawn attention on both sides of the Atlantic, with royal watchers and commentators in London closely monitoring the fallout for the Sussexes, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
A spokesperson for the foundation moved quickly to address the issue, attributing the delinquency to a simple administrative oversight. They stated that a cheque for the fees, which was sent promptly, had allegedly not been received by the California Department of Justice. A new payment has reportedly been submitted to resolve the matter.
Despite this explanation, the "delinquent" status remains active on the state's official registry until the payment is processed and recorded. The incident raises questions about the operational management of their post-royal endeavours and underscores the intense scrutiny their every move continues to attract from a global audience, particularly within the UK.
