The Duchess of Sussex’s charity foundation, One Young World, has recently come under scrutiny and received an official warning from the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the government body responsible for regulating registered charities in the country.
This warning follows an investigation by the watchdog, which uncovered unauthorized payments to a staff member and a lack of accurate records at the charity.
One Young World, known as a global forum for young leaders, has faced criticism for its extravagant spending and poor governance.
Additionally, its close association with Meghan Markle, who serves as one of its councillors and has spoken at several of its summits, has raised eyebrows.
Critics argue that the charity has become a mere vanity project for the Duchess, allowing her to promote her personal agenda and image.
According to the Charity Commission, One Young World breached trust and misconducted itself by making unauthorized payments to a connected individual employed by the charity’s trading subsidiary, responsible for running events and merchandise.
The commission also discovered that the charity failed to effectively manage conflicts of interest and neglected to keep proper minutes of its meetings.
In response to these findings, the Charity Commission issued an official warning to One Young World.
This serious sanction indicates a breach of trust, misconduct, or mismanagement and requires the charity to take remedial actions to address the identified issues.
Helen Stevenson, the chief executive officer of the Charity Commission, expressed concern over the governance errors uncovered, stating that they undermine public trust and confidence in the charity.
Stevenson expects the trustees to promptly rectify these failings and ensure that the charity operates in accordance with its charitable purposes as defined by the law.
One Young World released a statement in reaction to the warning, expressing disappointment with the findings.
The charity attributed the issues to historical mistakes in their legal processes and claimed to have relied on incorrect advice from former professional advisors.
One Young World also defended its relationship with Meghan Markle, emphasizing her valued support and inspiration for numerous young people.
The charity confirmed that it has no plans to sever ties with the Duchess, who has been invited to speak at its next summit in Berlin in 2024.
However, the warning has triggered a wave of backlash against Meghan Markle and One Young World on social media.
Many users have criticized the charity for its mismanagement and wastefulness.
Some even question the credibility and impact of an organization that charges young delegates up to £3,000 to attend its events.
On Twitter, one user wrote, “Meghan Markle and One Young World are a perfect match, both are fake, hypocritical, and self-serving.
They have no clue about the real issues facing young people in the world.
They should be ashamed of themselves.”
Another user commented, “One Young World is a scam, it’s a money-making scheme for Meghan Markle and her cronies.
They use young people as props and exploit their hopes and dreams.
They don’t care about charity or leadership; they only care about fame and power.”
Neither Meghan Markle nor One Young World has responded to the social media backlash or publicly apologized for their misconduct.
It remains uncertain whether they will comply with the Charity Commission’s warning or face further consequences.