Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed why they won’t be accepting wedding gifts
Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got engaged in November, we’ve been obsessing over the details of their wedding on May 19th. Most recently, the royal couple announced why they won’t be asking for wedding gifts — and it’s a reason we can really get behind.
Today, April 9th, Kensington Palace announced that in lieu of gifts, Markle and Harry would prefer donations to one of seven charities. The couple has no current relationship with the charities they selected, but they chose the organizations based on the causes they represent.
"Many of these are small charities, and the couple are pleased to be able to amplify and shine a light on their work," the statement from the Kensington Palace read.
The seven organizations chosen by Harry and Markle include Crisis, the U.K.’s national charity for homeless people and the Myna Mahila Foundation, which empowers women living in Indian slums. Also on the list are StreetGames, which the couple visited in January, and the Children’s HIV Association. The remaining charities are Surfers Against Sewage, The Wildnerness Foundation U.K., and Scotty’s Little Soldiers, which benefits children who have lost a parent in battle.
Prince Harry & Ms. Meghan Markle are incredibly grateful for the goodwill they have received since their engagement, & have asked that anyone who might wish to mark the occasion of their wedding considers giving to charity, instead of sending a gift. https://t.co/lzfrRmoeUv pic.twitter.com/nxrTZtIKBY
— The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) April 9, 2018
The couple have personally chosen 7 charities which represent a range of issues that they are passionate about, including sport for social change, women's empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, HIV and the Armed Forces.
— The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) April 9, 2018
In addition to their monetary donations, the couple has invited 200 people to their wedding who work for charities of which Harry is a patron. There will be more than 2,000 other members of the public invited to attend as well.
Harry and Markle aren’t the first royal couple to forego wedding gifts. When Prince William married Kate Middleton in 2011, the couple raised £1 million for 26 different charities.
We’re glad to see that Harry and Markle will be using their wedding to bring money and attention to these seven worthy organizations. And given that they have already broken with royal tradition to make their wedding more eco-friendly, we can’t wait to see how the newest royal couple continues to give back after their marriage. Until then, we’re excited to watch Markle and Harry tie the knot next month.
