Call for scrutiny over Meghan and Harry’s donation to Ashley Biden’s wellness centre

The group lobbying for Prince Harry’s visa records to be made public have called for scrutiny of an A$397m donation the royal couple’s foundation made to a centre run by Joe Biden’s daughter.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s A$397 million donation to a wellness centre run by former US President Joe Biden’s daughter Ashley should come under “significant scrutiny” according to a think tank.

Nile Gardiner, Director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, the same think tank lobbying for the Prince’s immigration records to be made public, told the Daily Mail such a sizeable donation should not go under the radar.

Prince Harry and the Bidens cheer during the Wheelchair Basketball Finals of the Invictus Games 2017 in Toronto. Picture: Getty Images

“I do think there should be significant scrutiny of that,” Mr Gardiner said, referring to the cheque written by the royal couple’s foundation Archewell.

Mr Gardiner also drew attention to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s support for Press Forward which funds hyperlocal news organisations.

“There should be significant oversight of these activities,” Mr Gardiner said.

Archewell made the donation to Women's Wellness Space in the 2023-2024 tax year according to the foundation’s annual report.

Meghan and Harry fled Britain in 2020, moving to California during first election campaign of Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

Meghan Markle posted a photo of herself with Barack Obama in 2017. Picture: Instagram

Mr Trump and Meghan have a long-running feud which began when, prior to her marriage to Harry, the Duchess called Mr Trump “misogynistic” during his election campaign agianst Hillary Clinton.

Meghan and Harry’s favourite journalist Omid Scobie has previously said the Duchess would consider running for President but the American born royal has never commented on the matter.

Ashley Biden stands with her father, then US President Joe Biden, as they watch the Independence Day fireworks from the Truman Balcony of the White House. Picture: AFP

Despite their history, Mr Trump has spoken against the think tank’s bid to open Harry’s immigration file as recently as this weekend.

“I don’t want to do that,” Mr Trump said.

“I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”

According to the December 2024 Archewell Impact Report, the donation to Ashley Biden’s Women’s Wellness Space was a high point for the foundation.

“Drawing from her experience with the criminal justice system, (Ashley) Biden’s initiative is inspired by her work with Mural Arts’ Women’s Re-entry Program, providing support and opportunities for formerly incarcerated women,” the report reads.

“The centre aims to offer a safe haven and community for women impacted by trauma, providing resources such as nutritious food, exercise, meditation, and therapeutic interventions.”

Originally published as Call for scrutiny over Meghan and Harry’s donation to Ashley Biden’s wellness centre