Meghan and Harry’s birthday wish for Archie is donations to fund COVID vaccines in poorer countries

Meghan and Harry have made a touching request for their son’s second birthday, saying they “cannot think of a more resonant way” to honour him.

Meghan and Harry have made a touching request of the public on their son Archie’s second birthday, saying they “cannot think of a more resonant way” to honour him.

In a statement published on their website titled “Join Us in Advocating for Vaccine Equity on Archie’s Birthday”, they invited people to “contribute whatever you can — if you have the means to do so — to bring vaccines to families in the world’s most vulnerable places.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they had been “deeply touched over the past two years” to feel the “warmth and support” offered to their family on their son’s birthday.

They noted that many donate to charities on his behalf and mark the occasion through an act of service “and continue to do so organically and selflessly”, saying they were “incredibly grateful”.

To celebrate Archie’s birthday, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan are encouraging donations to benefit @Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which buys COVID vaccines for the world (prioritising those in countries that cannot afford them)🌎

DONATE (via @GlblCtzn): https://t.co/btVsExz1u8pic.twitter.com/bt142TI8Bh

— Omid Scobie (@scobie) May 6, 2021

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Meghan and Harry, who are campaign chairs for the Vax Live concert to raise money for vaccine access, said that as little as $5 could “cover the cost of a dose for someone in need”.

The couple have secured matching support from several organisations so that every $5 donated up to $3 million will automatically turn into $20, funding four vaccine doses.

The California-based royals noted: “While some places are on the verge of healing, in so many parts of the world, communities continue to suffer. As of today, around 80 percent of the nearly one billion COVID-19 vaccine shots that have been given were administered in wealthier countries. While we may feel that normalcy is around the corner, we remind ourselves that in much of the world, and especially in developing countries, vaccine distribution has effectively yet to start.”

Meghan and Harry have asked people to donate to fund equitable vaccine access in honour of son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor’s second birthday. Picture: Toby Melville - Pool/Getty Images

RELATED: Archie’s ‘awkward’ birthday messages

Donations to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance can be made via advocacy group Global Citizen.

“We cannot think of a more resonant way to honour our son’s birthday,” the pair added. “If we all show up, with compassion for those we both know and don’t know, we can have a profound impact. Even a small contribution can have a ripple effect.”

The statement comes as the other royals extended awkward birthday wishes to two-year-old Archie.

Fans noted that the Queen’s official Royal Family social media account and Kate and William’s account shared very old photos of Meghan and Harry’s son along with brief messages.

Last year, Meghan shared a video of herself reading a book to Archie on his first birthday.

Prince Charles shared a photo of himself with Harry, 36, and baby Archie, cutting out Meghan altogether.

Social media users labelled the messages “awkward” and observed it was “sad” that they had no other photos to use.

Meghan, 39, has previously written on her now defunct lifestyle blog The Tig that she likes to “set goals” on birthdays, saying a birthday is an individual’s “own personal” New Year and a “time for growth”.

Last year, the Duchess — who has just written a children’s book inspired by Harry’s bond with Archie — read her son a book on Instagram to celebrate his special day.