Sources close to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have hit back at “ludicrous” claims the couple’s charity Archewell has hidden charity funds in a ‘missing millions’ scandal.
MailOnline claimed today that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were given two grants of more than £4.5 million ($6 million) over the last two years – but both are missing from the charity’s latest 990 tax return.
However, Archewell told the publication that the records, which declared $2,000,911 in the latest return, are correct and the money will appear on the next tax return.
Express.co.uk launched its own investigation this morning and has found that the Sussexes’ records are 100% correct.
Fidelity Charitable’s 990 captures grants they made from July 2022 to June 2023.
The Archewell Foundation’s 990 captures all donations received from January to December 2022.
All donations received in 2023 will appear on The Archewell Foundation’s 990 as standard at the end of this year.
“It’s so unfair to do this to a charity when they have done everything correctly,” said a source. “The claims are ludicrous because they [the Sussexes] have always been upfront and transparent about their finances.
“Something like this can be very damaging especially as it’s extremely misleading.”
Prince Harry flew into London this weekend for his appearance at the WellChild awards tomorrow, September 30.
However, fears for the Duke’s security in the UK have been amplified after his team banned the charity from publicising Monday’s event location.
According to a source, the 40-year-old’s team told WellChild that they were not allowed to inform the public or even those outside of a close-knit circle the location of this year’s event due to fears the Duke could become a target.
“Harry is still very concerned about his security in the UK and his team have asked that the location not be shared with anyone until the day of the event,” said the source. “It’s one thing for Harry to come over last minute for a funeral or to see family, but completely different when the event is publicised and in the public domain.
“He [Harry] could become a target so the team has ensured that the location only be known on a need to know basis.”
The update comes after Prince Harry’s shock revelation in his memoir Spare that he killed 25 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
The source says it is this boast which has increased security concerns ahead of his trip to the United Kingdom.
“The reason why Harry has become such a security concern is due to comments he’s made about the Taliban,” said the source. “Because of those comments, he will always be a target. That’s something he only has himself to blame.”
Prince Harry is set to continue with his legal fight against the Home Office over his security.
It is understood that a two-day hearing will go ahead on April 8 or 9 next year in the latest dramatic twist to the Duke’s three-year legal battle with the British government.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been approached for comment.
