Service is universal. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle demonstrated this as the Duchess of Sussex shared photos this week of their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, volunteering on Thanksgiving. Meghan‘s official Instagram captioned them: “Show up. Do Good.”
They were taken as the family was donating their time and energy at Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA). The California Royals participated in baking cookies, slicing vegetables, and assembling packaged meals for Angelenos facing food insecurity.
Some supporters view this as an act of service consistent with the values of the British monarchy — a commitment to charity and duty — aimed at showing the next generation the importance of giving back.
Critics within the Palace have found it difficult to publicly criticize images depicting young children participating in community activities and learning valuable life lessons.
A Legacy of Service King Charles Cannot Deny
The sight of Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, smiling as they worked alongside their children, Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, is being held up as proof that the Sussexes are carrying on the late Queen Elizabeth II‘s commitment to quiet, consistent duty, just in a Californian version of it. By having Archie and Lilibet participate in food preparation and packaging, Harry and Meghan are actively teaching them the principle of service that runs through their veins and is at the heart of the Crown.
The Sussex’s Archewell Foundation issued a statement reiterating its commitment to serve and highlighting those in need. The statement read: “Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, alongside the Archewell team, joined Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA) to prepare and package meals for community members experiencing food insecurity.”
It continued: “The Archewell Foundation remains committed to putting compassion into action—serving and uplifting communities locally and globally.”
The pictures have gone viral, and it is believed that for King Charles III and even Prince William, these images present an undeniable fact: their young British-American relatives, though separated by an ocean with almost no knowledge of the monarchy’s protocols and rules, are being raised in the proper way to embody the old institution’s mandate of helping those less fortunate.
The King, in particular, may view these images with a mix of pride and longing, knowing that the positive impact his grandchildren are making is happening thousands of miles outside the sphere of the working monarchy.
The Cynical Chorus: A Headline-Grabbing Stunt
However, despite the heartwarming nature of the pictures — showing Meghan helping shape cookies and Harry dishing up rice and peppers –cynical voices have reared their heads.
Some royal reporters and netizens have dismissed the family’s good deed as a calculated publicity stunt designed for commercial gain. The timing and the use of the images on social media immediately fueled accusations that the act was more about promoting the Archewell Foundation’s brand and securing lucrative future deals than genuine charity.
Some claimed that Prince Harry and his wife orchestrated the photos of charitable works to promote their own image and push their Netflix projects.
A Stark Reminder Of Grandchildren Missing Out
Others are pushing the theory that the pictures might serve as a direct message to King Charles.
It is to remind him that he is missing out on the joy of his grandchildren growing up without having any connection or memories with him. The image of a smiling Meghan holding hands with Lilibet, or Harry rolling a cookie into shape, offers a poignant glimpse into a family unit thriving away from the pressures of Palace life.
The Archewell post subtly underscored the mission’s scope: “The meals prepared will reach local schools, shelters, senior centers, and other community organizations serving our neighbors in need. Each year, OBKLA provides more than 70,000 nourishing meals while fostering a sense of care, connection, and belonging.”
Unhygienic Controversy Overshadows Good Deeds
Yet even amid their good works, controversy followed the Duchess. The very same day the service pictures were shared, Meghan was widely mocked for a short clip showing her preparing a turkey at home. Eagle-eyed viewers focused not on the effort but on the potential for bacterial spread because of the “rings and bracelets when handling food, especially a turkey. “
The Sussexes can never get a clean win.
