California Governor Gavin Newsom weighed in on the controversy surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell Foundation.
The charity run by the couple was declared “delinquent” and ordered to stop raising or spending money in a letter from California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta on May 3.
But the Archewell Foundation and the Attorney General’s office have confirmed that the organization “remains fully compliant and in good standing.”
Newsom, 56, defended the Sussexes and their foundation during a press conference at a behavioral health treatment center in San Mateo County on Wednesday.
“I’m here at a behavioral health site, a mental health site. Archewell Foundation, run by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, do extraordinary work, particularly [for] women and girls, but notably, around mental health,” the governor said.
He continued: “And I just want folks to know, not only are they in compliance, it was a technical paperwork issue that was wildly overhyped, and with respect, I hope people that ran those headlines run this headline, that it was a very typical, technical issue around paperwork that persists for so many others as well.”
“And they’re in full compliance and they’re a celebrated organization that does great work in the state of California,” Newsom added. “So I wanted to clarify that, because that’s important, and I just thought there was a little bit of a piling on that was deeply unfair.”
The letter that sparked the initial controversy claimed that Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, let the registration fees for Archewell lapse, causing their organization to be listed as “delinquent” in the registry of charities and fund-raisers.
“An organization that is listed as delinquent is not in good standing and is prohibited from engaging in conduct for which registration is required, including soliciting or disbursing charitable funds,” the document filed by state’s attorney general read.
The document also said, “The organization may also be subject to penalties and its registration may be suspended or revoked by the Registry.”
Archewell includes the couple’s nonprofit charitable foundation as well as their for-profit business divisions focusing on media production, Archewell Audio and Archewell Productions.
A spokesperson for Archewell confirmed to Page Six Tuesday that the foundation was back in business.
“We have diligently investigated the situation and can confirm that The Archewell Foundation remains fully compliant and in good standing,” the statement read.
The spokesperson added: “Due payments were made promptly and in accordance with the IRS’s processes and procedures. Furthermore, all necessary paperwork had been filed by the Foundation without error or wrongdoing.”
According to Page Six, the foundation owed around $200, not including any late fees.
Meghan and Harry set up their Archewell charity after they quit royal life and moved to California in March 2020.
They were in Nigeria when the controversy over their foundation made headlines.
“We’re just doing great. And happy to be watching our family grow up and evolve,” Meghan told People during their three-day Nigeria tour.
“Of course I’m happy,” the mom of two added. “We’re really happy.”