In 2009, Prince William, Prince Harry, and Kate Middleton launched the Royal Foundation as their primary charitable organization.
All of their charitable endeavors were conducted under the umbrella of this foundation, which aimed to serve as a joint platform for the three senior members of the royal family to advance their charitable causes and initiatives. Over the years, the foundation expanded substantially in size and scope, taking on major projects such as Heads Together, a mental health campaign, and the Invictus Games, Prince Harry's sporting event for wounded service members.
For nearly a decade, the foundation operated with the three core members actively involved in promoting its work. However, changes began to unfold in 2018 after Harry and Meghan's wedding, as they transitioned fully into senior working royal roles. It became evident that they desired to branch out and develop their own charitable organizations and interests separate from William and Kate. This process of separation accelerated following their decision to step back from senior royal duties in early 2020.
In March of that year, it was officially announced that Harry and Meghan would formally depart from their roles in the Royal Foundation. This prompted William and Kate to assume ownership of the foundation and rebrand it as the more well-known "Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge." Any mention or involvement of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was removed from all online branding and information about the charity.
William and Kate signaled their intention for the foundation to now solely focus on their priorities and interests, rather than remaining a joint platform. This was viewed as the final symbolic step in the division of the two couples' working lives post-"Megxit." Some critics saw it as evidence of a widening divide between the brothers, while supporters argued it was merely an administrative change reflecting the new working structures and priorities of the two families living on different continents.
Insiders noted that William and Kate had been the driving force behind the charity for many years, with Harry playing a lesser role in the day-to-day operations. Thus, the rebranding was not a major strategic shift but rather formalizing changes that were already underway since the Sussexes' departure. Moving forward, the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will focus on key initiatives like mental health, early childhood development, and environmental issues, with projects like Heads Together and the Earthshot Prize expected to continue expanding under the new structure.
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan are busy developing their own nonprofit organization titled "Daru," focusing on causes such as gender equality, racial justice, climate change, and mental health support. While these align with the goals of the Royal Foundation in the past, they now have full independence to pursue their vision outside the UK. The long-term impacts of this split between the charitable operations of the Sussexes and the Cambridges remain to be seen.
Questions linger around whether working completely separately could hinder future collaboration on shared objectives, and some duplication of efforts between the two foundations may occur. However, for now, all sides seem committed to pursuing their own paths. William and Kate have control over the highly successful Royal Foundation brand moving forward, while simultaneously Harry and Meghan have the opportunity to leave their imprint on their organization as it develops in the coming years.
Formally changing the name was a logical administrative step, reflecting the new realities between the brothers and their families post-"Megxit," while symbolically acknowledging the divide. It provides clarity on their separate roles and priorities for supporters and the general public going forward. This decision marks a turning point, but the long-term effects remain uncertain.
