Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Post-Royal Plan Is Starting to Emerge
On March 30, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced something shocking. Well, it was less shocking than the announcement on January 8—when they dropped their bombshell decision to step back from royal life—but still once unthinkable: They were quitting their social media account, Sussexroyal. When the two joined in April 2019, they received more than 1 million followers in less than six hours, a Guinness World Record. (Months later, that title would be taken by Jennifer Aniston.) Eventually, that number would grow to a mammoth 11.3 million. “As we all find the part we are to play in this global shift and changing of habits, we are focusing this new chapter to understand how we can best contribute,” they wrote, referencing the COVID-19 pandemic. “While you may not see us here, the work continues.”
The work continues in Los Angeles, one should add. Despite a highly publicized decampment to Canada, the couple did not stay up north for long—instead, they settled down in Los Angeles weeks after completing their final royal duty in London. Where in L.A., exactly, is still unknown, but People describes it as a “secluded compound.”
So what will life look like for the Sussexes in the City of Angels? Already, details have begun to emerge. Earlier this week, they announced the name of their new nonprofit, Archewell. According to The Daily Telegraph, which broke the story, Archewell will be an all-encompassing endeavor that includes charity services, emotional support groups, multimedia education, and a wellbeing website. (Notably, before she married into the royal family, Markle ran a lifestyle blog, the Tig.)
“We connected to this concept for the charitable organization we hoped to build one day, and it became the inspiration for our son’s name. To do something of meaning, to do something that matters,” they told the outlet. “Archewell is a name that combines an ancient word for strength and action, and another that evokes the deep resources we each must draw upon. We look forward to launching Archewell when the time is right.” Since it’s been reported that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can no longer use the “Sussexroyal” moniker once they are no longer working royals, it is entirely possible that Archewell may be their new social media brand as well.
Additionally, a return to Hollywood isn’t off the table for the Duchess of Sussex. This week, a documentary she narrated, Elephant, was released on Disney+. While it’s hard to imagine the duchess returning to a television series show like Suits—especially since she’s now running a nonprofit—perhaps smaller acting projects, or those with a charitable angle, may be a feasible endeavor.
With the world under lockdown, life is on hold for everyone, including the Sussexes. But whenever the storm passes, it looks like the Sussexes are off to build an empire beyond Britain.
Originally Appeared on Vogue
