Why7 Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Jordan Trip Is Raising Eyebrows

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s recent humanitarian trip to Jordan, focusing on Palestinian children and refugee programs, has sparked debate about the couple’s charitable impact.

With the Archewell Foundation restructured into Archewell Philanthropies and staff reduced, critics question whether their visits are more symbolic than operational.

While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met aid recipients, toured camps, and engaged in community activities, the trip lacked formal royal audiences.

Harry and Meghan’s humanitarian visit to Jordan has raised eyebrows, with some observers calling out the royal couple due to the state of their Archewell foundation, which has been “essentially shuttered.”

The scrutiny follows reports that the Sussexes’ Archewell Foundation has been restructured under the name Archewell Philanthropies and has reduced much of its staffing.

“They don’t have a foundation [anymore], so what are they actually doing to help these people? They have no (more) money to give… that’s the elephant in the room,” an insider told Page Six, pointing to the downsizing of Archewell and the transfer of its Parents Network initiative to the nonprofit ParentsTogether.

Harry and Meghan’s two-day visit to Jordan, made at the invitation of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, included meetings with Palestinian children evacuated from Gaza for medical care, tours of refugee camps, and visits to local aid centers.

According to reports, the couple flew commercially and covered their own travel expenses after notifying officials at Buckingham Palace.

The trip also gave Harry and Meghan a chance to see the programs supported by previous Archewell funding.

Last year, the foundation pledged $500,000 to aid children affected by conflict in Gaza and Ukraine.

The donations included $200,000 to the World Health Organization, $150,000 to Save the Children, and $150,000 to the Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London.

Despite the meaningful moments captured during the visit, including Meghan speaking with a 14-year-old burn survivor and Harry appearing visibly moved, critics argue that due to the current state of Archewell, the couple doesn’t have much to offer.

“They are just gracing people with their presence,” a source linked to the foundation told the news outlet.

The couple’s itinerary included meetings with Princess Basma bint Talal and her daughter Farah Daghistani, alongside visits to a youth center run by Questscope, where they engaged with local children and joined in a casual soccer game.

Observers noted that the tone and styling of the trip echoed humanitarian visits once associated with the late Diana, Princess of Wales, drawing inevitable comparisons.

The visit also raised eyebrows for what it lacked: formal meetings with Jordan’s senior royals.

Local sources confirmed that no audience was scheduled with King Abdullah II or Crown Prince Hussein, despite the longstanding ties between the Jordanian and British royal families dating back to the friendship between the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Hussein.

Instead, King Abdullah focused on talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and separately met with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

One insider told the media that the Sussexes may have been “disappointed” by the lack of a royal audience.

“It’s a pseudo royal visit, mimicking many of the things they or William and Kate would have done when they were part of the Firm, but it seems to be lacking in the ceremonial side of things,” the source said.

Despite not meeting the king or crown prince, Harry and Meghan were warmly received by British diplomatic staff upon arrival.

Ambassador Philip Hall hosted them at the ambassador’s official residence, including a roundtable with representatives from the United Nations and the WHO.

Hall reportedly thanked the couple for their support, saying their presence and recognition of local efforts were “enormously appreciated.”

The involvement of British diplomats during Harry and Meghan’s trip did not go unnoticed and drew sharp criticism.

Former Conservative minister Tim Loughton questioned whether it was appropriate for the Sussexes, who are no longer working royals, to receive such formal treatment.

He noted that they “are not working royals and do not represent the British Government or UK PLC.”

Loughton described it as “surprising” that such a reception was extended, given the couple’s decision to step back from royal duties and present themselves as private citizens.

He added, “giving them an official platform could be construed as them saying something that represents official UK policy.”