The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have reportedly put themselves on the auction block for an exclusive dinner experience, with a staggering price tag expected to reach six figures. The move is part of a high-end fundraiser for their charitable organisation, the Archewell Foundation.
A Swanky Fundraiser for a Personal Cause
According to reports, the couple are working with the premium auction platform CharityBuzz to offer the unique opportunity. It is believed that the winning bid for a private dinner with the Sussexes could be in the region of $100,000, approximately £75,000. This initiative mirrors the hospitality skills they recently displayed in their Netflix series, With Love, Meghan.
Interestingly, the listing does not appear to be publicly advertised on CharityBuzz's main website. This suggests the offer may have been extended privately to previous high-spending clients, or 'high rollers', who have a history of splashing out for A-list encounters. A source close to the matter stated, "People will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to have dinner with them."
CharityBuzz: A Platform for Star-Studded Lots
CharityBuzz, which has raised an impressive $650 million (around £485 million) over its 20-year history, is no stranger to celebrity auctions. Past featured lots have included experiences with George Clooney, Beyoncé, and Sir Paul McCartney. Current offerings on the site include dinner with Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk for $10,000 and platinum Grammy awards tickets for $50,000.
When contacted by the Mail Online, a spokesperson for Archewell confirmed the partnership, saying, "We have partnered with numerous fundraising partners over the years and CharityBuzz has been one of them." The Archewell Foundation was established after Harry and Meghan relocated to the United States and stepped back from their roles as senior working royals. Its recent projects include creating a support network for parents whose children have been harmed by social media.
A Contrast to Royal Protocol and Current Happenings
Such a direct commercialisation of their status would have been unthinkable during Harry and Meghan's time as full-time working members of the Royal Family. The report draws a parallel to a 2010 scandal involving Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. Fergie was caught in a sting operation offering access to her then-husband, Prince Andrew, for £500,000, a incident that caused major controversy.
The news of the charity auction emerges as Prince Harry was photographed enjoying a boys' trip in Aspen, Colorado. He participated in the World Snow Polo Championships alongside his friend Nacho Figueras. Meanwhile, Meghan Markle is believed to have remained at the family's home in Montecito with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The Duchess showed her support from afar, sharing a sporty snap of Harry on his horse with the caption, "Oh, hello there."
This exclusive dinner auction underscores the Sussexes' continued strategy of leveraging their global profile for philanthropic causes, while navigating a new, independent path far from the constraints of palace life.
