Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was seen in tears on her way home after the news broke that WellChild, a UK charity for seriously ill children, is considering replacing Prince Harry as its patron.
This decision comes as friends of Prince William and Kate Middleton express their irritation at Harry’s choice to give a speech in London on the eve of the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death.
According to sources from the Daily Beast, it is unlikely that Harry will see his father or brother during this time and he will not be expected to attend any private or public family gatherings to mark the late Queen’s passing.
The reception to his announcement has been notably cold, especially considering that September 8th marks the anniversary of the Queen’s death.
It seems inconceivable that Harry would not refer to or pay tribute to his late grandmother, especially since he missed last year’s WellChild Awards as he rushed to be by her side.
WellChild has been a cause close to Harry’s heart for 15 years, and it is one of the few organizations he has continued to support after stepping back from his royal duties in 2020.
However, with the recent negative impact on his reputation due to what he wrote in his memoir “Spares,” where he admitted to taking drugs at a young age and engaging in bullying behavior, some leaders within WellChild have argued that it is time to replace him with a royal who has a more suitable image and better reputation.
One name that has been suggested is Mike Tyndall, husband of Zara Tyndall, who is a member of the royal family.
Mike Tyndall is known for his down-to-earth nature and strong connection with children.
The couple has three children: Mia, who is turning 9 tomorrow, Lena, 4, and Lucas, 1.
Mia, the eldest Tyndall child, happens to be the same age as her second cousin, Prince George, who is also the heir to the throne.
The decision to invite celebrity patrons like Harry and Meg is usually aimed at attracting positive attention and support for the cause.
However, WellChild may have miscalculated in assuming that having the couple present would bring an enormous boost in publicity and donations.
Unfortunately, Harry and Meghan are not popular figures in the UK, and their association with the charity may not reflect well on WellChild.
It is unfortunate for the charity, but the CEO and fundraising director should have taken into account the public sentiment towards Harry and Meghan.
Perhaps they should have waited another year to see if opinions changed.
In the meantime, Mike Tyndall’s presence as a patron could bring a more positive impact to WellChild, given his relatability and connection with children.
Overall, the decision to replace Harry as patron of WellChild with Mike Tyndall seems to be driven by the desire to align the charity with a figure who has a better reputation and can generate more support.
It remains to be seen how this change will affect WellChild’s image and fundraising efforts, but it is clear that the organization is taking steps to ensure its continued success in supporting seriously ill children and their families.
