Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Reveal the One Wedding Gift They’re Asking For
Their pick is totally selfless.
What do you get a royal couple for their wedding? For Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the answer is simple: a donation to charity.
“Prince Harry & Ms. Meghan Markle are incredibly grateful for the goodwill they have received since their engagement, and have asked that anyone who might wish to mark the occasion of their wedding considers giving to charity, instead of sending a gift,” Kensington Palace announced today.
The pair has picked out seven charities that “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 Palace added.
The organizations are:
CHIVA, the Children’s HIV Association, which supports children growing up with HIV and their families across the U.K. and Ireland.
The charities include @chivaprojects, which supports children growing up with HIV and their families. The charity helps to create a more hopeful and optimistic future for them, ensuring they achieve their greatest potential. https://t.co/W3AQovuL2H pic.twitter.com/BvnZjmzPOl
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 9, 2018
Crisis, the national charity for homeless people, which helps individuals rebuild their lives and leave homelessness behind.
.@crisis_uk has also been chosen by the couple. Crisis helps people directly out of homelessness, working side by side with thousands of people each year to help them rebuild their lives and leave homelessness behind for good. https://t.co/k7ZYzI1gbF pic.twitter.com/DTPsARVdc9
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 9, 2018
Myna Mahalia Foundation, which empowers underprivileged women in Mumbai and breaks taboos about menstrual hygiene. Markle has worked with this foundation and spoken out about the period stigma before. She also previously met with girls in Mumbai whose educations were affected by the stigmatization.
Next up is @MynaMahila, which empowers women in Mumbai's slums by providing them with a trusted network, stable employment & the chance to grow as individuals & businesswomen, and breaks taboos around menstrual hygiene. https://t.co/suzul1y9cw pic.twitter.com/eIG3GP6bW7
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 9, 2018
Scotty’s Little Soldiers, which offers support to children who have lost a parent serving in the British Armed Forces.
The couple have also chosen @CorporalScotty, a charity that offers vital support and activities to children who have lost a parent while serving in the British Armed Forces, helping them to smile again. https://t.co/23tYNy7rSC pic.twitter.com/G6CISr2TvU
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 9, 2018
StreetGames, “uses sport to empower young people to kick-start a cycle of positive change in their own lives,” according to the Palace. Harry and Meghan got to meet with members and volunteers of the charity during their visit to Cardiff, Wales this year.
Also selected is @StreetGames, a charity which uses sport to empower young people to kick-start a cycle of positive change in their own lives. Prince Harry and Ms. Markle visited one of the charity's projects together in Cardiff earlier this year. https://t.co/UPY6Nyt2k6 pic.twitter.com/0XQJOL6iNj
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 9, 2018
Surfers Against Sewage, a national marine conservation charity that encourages communities to protect oceans, beaches, wildlife and more.
The charities also include @sascampaigns, a national marine conservation & campaigning charity, which inspires, unites & empowers communities to take action to protect oceans, beaches, waves & wildlife. https://t.co/J7yExoY411 pic.twitter.com/IpXgh23Y13
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 9, 2018
The Wilderness Foundation UK, which promotes activity in and the conservation of the great outdoors. Prince Harry previously worked with the organization in September 2017.
Finally, the couple have chosen @WildernessUK, which promotes the benefits & enjoyment of wild nature. Through the great outdoors, the charity helps build resilience in vulnerable teenagers & introduces rural employment to urban youth. https://t.co/PqKQ9UkV2B pic.twitter.com/vL4UEJTlWL
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 9, 2018
This marks a selfless and humble move from the couple with the most highly-anticipated wedding of the year. Harry and Meghan’s decision to include philanthropy in their royal nuptials also foreshadows how they’ll continue to pursue charity work in the next chapter of their lives together.
Markle’s Suits costar, Patrick J. Adams, however, is debating on a household item to gift the couple. “We were trying to choose between like a blender or bread maker. You know something classy, like a good blender,” he told Entertainment Tonight last week. “She’s gonna need a Vitamix for sure.”
From Harper’s Bazaar US