By Molly Claire Goddard
7:50am PST, Jan 9, 2026
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Despite wanting to keep their two kids,
Prince Archie and
Princess Lilibet, out of the spotlight,
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle included them in a major announcement for their organization. "After five beautiful years, the Archewell Foundation is becoming Archewell Philanthropies," the statement
read. "This charitable entity allows the couple and their children to expand upon their global philanthropic endeavors as a family."
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According to
Daily Express correspondent
Chris Riches,
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's integration of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet into the charity is out of character. "They have spent years building a ring of steel around the kids to shield them from the circus they used to amass their $81 million fortune, selling their family life as a 'brand,'" he wrote. "So, it makes their actions last week, propelling both children into the limelight and hinting at a future career path they may have already selected for them, all the more hypocritical and baffling."
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An anonymous friend of
Prince Harry also condemned the move. "I am genuinely confused," they told
Daily Mail. "Harry and Meghan [Markle] were always so insistent that their children, [Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet], would be able to make their own way in life without the pressure of expectations or titles. I can't believe Harry is behind this. It must be Meghan's influence."
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Additionally,
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle came under fire for posting photos of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet on social media, despite their advocacy for privacy. "It just seems a very strange strategy to me. They're definitely very much aware of the appeal of their children," royal expert
Richard Eden wrote for
Daily Mail. "What we've seen is Meghan relentlessly using social media, whether that's
Instagram or other forms to promote her company and interestingly, we've seen them use their children more and more in videos."
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During an appearance on the "
Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know" podcast,
Prince Harry was asked if people should feature their kids on social media. "Parents can do whatever they want," he said. "The reality is, from what I've learned, what I've seen, what I've heard and experienced, especially through the Parents Network, is you should be really, really worried, concerned and cautious about putting photographs of your kids online, especially now."
