Meghan Markle has voiced her support for working mothers and shared a new charity initiative in the US.
The mother-of-two, 40, announced in a statement that her and Prince Harry‘s Archewell Foundation is launching a ‘National Business Coalition for Child Care,’ in collaboration with the Marshall Plan for Moms charity, in the hope of pushing for more childcare solutions in the business world.
The Duchess of Sussex, who lives in Montecito with Harry, 37, their son Archie, three and their ten-months-old daughter Lilibet, is advocating for companies to listen to the needs of their employees in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement, the California-native said working mothers ‘shoulder so much’ since Covid-19.
Meghan Markle, 40, has praised working mothers and announced a new Archewell collaborations with the Marshall Plan for Moms US charity for a ‘National Business Coalition for Child Care.’ (pictured during the Invictus Games in The Hague on April 17)
The Marshall Plan for Moms is a US-based charity pushing for more flexibility and policies in the workplace to help working mothers juggling careers and parenting duties.
‘Families everywhere, and especially working moms, are asked to shoulder so much,’ Meghan said.
‘This has only been heightened by the pandemic, with increased caregiving responsibilities, rising prices, and economic uncertainty. As it’s been said many times, it takes a village to raise a child,’ she added.
‘Today, we’re sending a message that childcare isn’t just a community imperative—it’s a business imperative,’ she added. ‘Creating a stronger workforce starts with meeting the needs of families.’
The Duchess of Sussex, who lives in Montecito with Harry, 37, their son Archie, three and their ten-months-old daughter Lilibet, is advocating for companies to listen to the needs of their employees in the aftermaths of the coronavirus pandemic
According to research for the Marshall Plan for Moms in partnership with McKinsey & Company, 69 per cent of mothers with children under five are more likely to go for employers who offer on-site childcare or financial aid to pay for childcare.
Other organisations joining the coalition include, Patagonia, Athletes Unlimited. and Fast Retailing, which owns Uniqlo, Comptoir des Cotonniers, GU, Princesse Tam-Tam, and Theory.
Members will work to pursue solutions to provide childcare and support for their employees.
They have also vowed to demonstrate how they are taking spaces to that effect within their organisations, and to share their policies, data and practices to show how they are tackling the issue internally.
They will also speak out publicly about the importance of childcare in the US economic landscape.
It is not the first time Meghan has come out as a parenting advocate.
Last year, she made a political statement as she wrote a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer advocating for paid family leave.
‘I’m not an elected official, and I’m not a politician,’ Markle, who is long rumored to be keen on a career in politics, wrote. ‘I’m writing to you at this deeply important time – as a mom – to advocate for paid leave.’
Harry and Meghan have confirmed they will take part in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June
The extraordinary 1,030-word letter – handed out to supportive media to share – asked Pelosi and Schumer to consider her plea ‘on behalf of my family, Archie and Lili and Harry’.
The duchess depicted humble beginnings, saying that her family struggled when she was young despite her well-documented middle class upbringing in which she attended private primary and secondary schools on her Emmy award-winning lighting director father’s $200,000-a-year salary.
And she now lives in a $14million sprawling mansion in Montecito, California, complete with designer touches and has signed a series of lucrative deals with Spotify and Netflix thought to be worth well over $150million.
The news of this new Archewell ventures comes as it was confirmed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would take part in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in the UK come June.
A spokesperson for the couple said: ‘Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are excited and honored to attend The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children.’
However, it was announced that Harry and Meghan, alongside his cousins and several other members of the royal family, won’t make an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during their visit.
The balcony appearance, which is often seen as the centrepiece of major royal occasions, including Trooping the Colour and weddings, usually sees the Queen’s extended family gather to watch a flypast and is a rare chance for fans to see the entire extended family together.
Following his ejection from public life, after settling a civil court case in America over allegations of sexual abuse against Virginia Giuffre (which he vehemently denies), it was inconceivable that Beatrice and Eugenie’s father Prince Andrew would be given a spot.
Despite earlier claims that the Queen offered Prince Harry and Meghan Markle a space on the platform, they too have been left off the list, although they quickly announced today that they will be in London for the celebrations with their two children.
Platinum Jubilee: Who will be missing from the balcony? Queen’s beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren and close cousins will miss out on balcony appearance
Left to right: Zenouska Mowatt, Lady Gabriella Windsor, Thomas Kingston, Lord Frederick Windsor, Sophie Winkleman, Princess Michael of Kent, Prince Michael of Kent, Lord Nicholas Windsor and Louis Windsor will not appear. However, Prince Louis, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, the Duches sof Cambridge, the Duchess of Cornwall, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Prince Charles, Prince Edward and Princess Anne have secured a spot alongside the Queen. Absentees, will include Princess Eugenie, Prince Andrew, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle. James, Viscount Severn, but there’s no place for Isla Phillips, Savannah Phillips, Peter Phillips, his ex-wife Autumn Phillips or Lyla Gilman. Lady Louise Windsor will be present. However, the following have also been ousted: Lady Helen Taylor, Flora Ogilvy, George Gilman, Lady Rose Gilman, James Ogilvy, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Duchess of Gloucester, Alexander Ogilvy. Sylvana Palma Windsor, Countess of St. Andrews and George Windsor, the Earl of St. Andrews
1. OUT: Zenouska Mowatt
2. OUT: Lady Gabriella Windsor
3. OUT:T homas Kingston
4. OUT: Lord Frederick Windsor
5. OUT: Sophie Winkleman
6. OUT: Princess Michael of Kent
7. OUT: Prince Michael of Kent
8. OUT: Lord Nicholas Windsor
9. OUT: Louis Windsor
10. IN: Prince Louis
11. IN: Prince William
12. IN: Prince George
13. IN: Princess Charlotte
14. IN: Duchess of Cambridge
15. IN: Duchess of Cornwall
16. IN: Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence
17. IN: Prince Charles
18. IN: Prince Edward
19. IN: Princess Anne
20. IN: Queen Elizabeth II
21. OUT: Princess Eugenie
22. OUT: Prince Andrew
23. OUT: Prince Harry
24. OUT: Meghan Markle
25. IN: James, Viscount Severn
26. OUT: Isla Phillips
27. OUT: Savannah Phillips
28. OUT: Peter Phillips
29. OUT: Autumn Phillips
30. OUT: Lyla Gilman
31. IN: Lady Louise Windsor
32. OUT: Lady Helen Taylor
33. OUT: Flora Ogilvy
34. OUT: George Gilman
35. OUT: Lady Rose Gilman
36. OUT: James Ogilvy
37. IN: Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
38. IN: Duchess of Gloucester
39. OUT: Alexander Ogilvy
40. OUT: Sylvana Palma Windsor, Countess of St. Andrews
41. OUT: George Windsor, the Earl of St. Andrews
NOT PICTURED
42: IN: Sophie Wessex
43: IN: Princess Alexandra
43. OUT: Princess Beatrice
44: OUT: Edo Mapelli Mozzi
45: OUT: Sienna Mapelli Mozzi
45. OUT: Jack Brooksbank
46. OUT: August Brooksbank
47. OUT: Mia Tindall
48: OUT: Lena Tindall
49: OUT: Lucas Tindall
50: OUT: Mike Tindall
Source: Daily Mail Femail
