Meghan Markle and Prince Harry donate to Texas women’s shelter damaged in Winter Storm Uri after breaking from royals
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry have donated to a women’s shelter devastated by a huge storm in Texas after breaking away from the Royal Family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the unknown donation to the Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support in Dallas.
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It was badly damaged by Winter Storm Uri, which has gripped Texas, with its ceiling collapsing and burst pipes causing flooding.
As a result, women homed at the shelter were relocated to hotels, other shelters and homes of friends and family as the centre closed for the first time in 35 years.
The couple, who are expecting a second child, made a donation through their non-profit Archwell Foundation days after declaring: “Service is universal”.
Following a series of donations, CEO Jan Langbein said “our hearts have been warmed by the support and generosity of people from all 50 states and five foreign countries”.
She added: “Today we have been notified that through the actions of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s nonprofit, Archwell Foundation, Prince Harry and Meghan will make a donation to help us get back on our feet.
“Not only will this gift provide for our critical needs, it shines an international spotlight on violence against women and children, letting survivors know that they are not alone.”
Harry, 36, and Meghan are currently living in the US after quitting the Royal Family and have signed a string of megabucks deals with Netflix and Spotify.
It is not clear how sizeable their donation was but the shelter praised them for “supporting us by replacing the roof at our transitional housing facility and helping us meet our immediate needs”.
A tweet added: “Today, the news of our damages reached Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex!
“THANK YOU, ARCHEWELL FOUNDATION!”
The donation comes just days after Harry and Meghan, 39, sensationally told the Queen they would not be returning as working members of the Royal Family.
The pair declared “service is universal” as they were stripped of their honorary titles and patronages as Megxit was finalised.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the couple will no longer hold their formal positions with a range of military, arts, Commonwealth and sporting organisations.
But the decision is said to have come as a bitter blow to the couple who, despite wanting to remain in the US for personal and financial freedom, believed they could still represent the public-facing bodies.
As part of the deal, Meghan lost two royal patronages given to her by the Queen in 2019 at the National Theatre and the Association of Commonwealth Universities, also giving up her role as vice-president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.
Meanwhile, The Duke, a keen rugby fan, will no longer be a patron of the Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football League – roles which he took over from the Queen.
Harry is also no longer a patron of the London Marathon Charitable Trust after nine years in the role or WellChild.
He will no longer hold his military titles including The Royal Marines, RAF Honington, Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving.
Meghan and Harry had previously agreed to no longer use their HRH titles as part of the initial Megxit agreement.
The Megxit announcement was released 11 months after the couple stepped back from their roles as senior royals.
It comes ahead of a tell-all chat with Oprah Winfrey to be aired next month.
A spokesperson for the couple said: “As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organisations they have represented regardless of official role.
“We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”
