Meghan Markle and Prince Harry recently introduced a new initiative under their Art 12 Foundation, as per the annual impact report published by their charitable organization.
This report revealed that Meghan discreetly launched a program this year, inspired by her involvement with the Hub community kitchen during her time as a member of the royal family in the UK.
However, it is important to note that they are not providing funding for this initiative; rather, they have made a donation to an existing program, which includes a sub-project resembling the one previously supported by the royals.
Named the Welcome Project, this program aims to support women-led activities for recently resettled Afghan women, with the goal of fostering more inclusive and connected communities.
Currently, there are 11 active Welcome Projects across the United States, offering various activities such as sewing, art, hiking, swimming, photography, storytelling, and cooking, all aimed at creating a sense of belonging.
Critics argue that Meghan is merely replicating an idea that was originally organized by the royal family years ago in Britain through the Hub community kitchen.
They claim that instead of helping the Hub House grow, Meghan and Harry have chosen to appropriate the idea and implement it independently.
This move has raised eyebrows, as it appears to be in line with the couple’s past actions of leveraging their royal connections.
Some skeptics believe that the couple’s advisors at WME may have encouraged them to establish new connections within the royal family and regain public favor through philanthropic endeavors.
It seems that the doors to Hollywood have closed, leaving them no choice but to seek alternative routes for influence and goodwill.
However, questions arise regarding what exactly Arch Royal, the couple’s foundation, is contributing to the Welcome Project.
The article highlights that there are already 11 Welcome Centers in operation, indicating that this is not an original initiative by Arch Royal.
Moreover, similarities between the Welcome Project and the Hub kitchen go beyond their shared focus on empowering women and nurturing families.
The Hub kitchen was already established and operational before Meghan’s involvement, yet she seemingly took credit for its success.
Not only did she allegedly steal the idea, but she also appropriated the name.
A simple Google search for the Welcome Project leads to an organization founded in 1987, dedicated to assisting immigrants in Somersville, MA.
This Welcome Project received a substantial $25 million grant from the Cummings Foundation.
Therefore, it appears that Meghan not only borrowed ideas from existing work done by others but also adopted an already-established name.
Meghan Markle previously claimed that she subtly pays homage to the royal family, mentioning the inspiration she derived from her time as a working member of the monarchy in a recent Arch Royal report.
According to the report, after visiting the Hub community kitchen, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex began exploring new ideas.
The Arch Royal Foundation swiftly partnered with Team Rubicon and Welcome US to address the challenges faced by families resettling in the United States, including access to education, employment opportunities, and healthcare services.
Consequently, the Welcome Project was launched in 2023, focusing on supporting women-led programming for recently resettled Afghan women.
Critics argue that Harry and Meghan’s establishment of a charity primarily serves to garner attention and enhance their public image, despite making relatively small one-off donations.