At first glance, the language surrounding Archewell still sounds grand: a global mission, a bold vision, and a sweeping rebrand meant to signal growth and evolution. But behind the polished announcements and carefully chosen words, a far less flattering reality has begun to emerge — one that has left critics openly questioning whether the Sussex operation has been more performance than substance all along.
According to recent insider reports, Archewell has quietly downsized to its bare minimum, cutting roughly 60 percent of its workforce and leaving just two senior figures in place. For an organization repeatedly framed as a major philanthropic force, the contrast is stark. One observer dryly noted that the structure now resembles “a startup in survival mode,” not the world-changing charity its founders once promised.
The timing of this revelation has only intensified scrutiny. The staff cuts reportedly followed closely on the heels of Archewell’s high-profile rebrand, a move publicly justified as a way to reduce administrative burden and unlock future growth. To skeptics, the sequence tells a different story. “You don’t usually talk about expansion while shrinking this aggressively,” one reader commented. “Unless the expansion is just in the press releases.”
Financial pressures appear to be at the heart of the issue. Insiders describe a charity grappling with falling donations and rising expenses, a combination that quickly becomes unsustainable. While Archewell’s outward messaging has focused on impact and values, tax filings and leaked figures suggest a harsher reality: more money going out than coming in. Salaries, grants, and operational costs have reportedly ballooned, even as donor enthusiasm wanes.
For Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Archewell was meant to be more than a charity. It was positioned as the moral centerpiece of their post-royal life, proof that they could thrive independently while doing good on a global scale. That ambition resonated initially, buoyed by massive media attention and lucrative commercial deals. But as those deals falter and scrutiny deepens, Archewell’s fragility has become harder to disguise.