On Wednesday, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrated their third anniversary in a slightly different way than usual. Instead of sharing a new photo or a memory from the past, the couple announced that they are continuing their partnership with World Central Kitchen, chef José Andrés’s disaster relief nonprofit. Amid a worsening coronavirus crisis in India, Archewell is helping to support a new Community Relief Center in Mumbai. Currently, World Central Kitchen is providing 20,000 meals a day in ten different cities in temporary kitchens, but the new development will be permanent.
“In support of India, Archewell Foundation and World Central Kitchen are focusing on the long-term needs of local communities,” read a statement on the Archewell website. “The Mumbai location will be the third in a series of four Community Relief Centers that our organizations have committed to develop in regions of the world disproportionately affected by natural disaster.”
Meghan and Harry announced the collaboration with World Central Kitchen, their first major charitable initiative since leaving the royal family, in December. Construction on a center in Domenica finished in February, and another in Puerto Rico is currently under development.
“When we think about Chef Andrés and his incredible team at World Central Kitchen, we’re reminded that even during a year of unimaginable hardship, there are so many amazing people willing — and working tirelessly — to support each other,” they said in a statement when they launched the project. “World Central Kitchen inspires us through compassion in action.”
For their first anniversary in 2019, Meghan and Harry shared a few behind-the-scenes images from their St. George Chapel wedding on their now-defunct Sussex Royal Instagram page. In the months that have passed, Meghan and Harry have both spoken up about how their feelings on social media have changed, and in October 2020, Meghan explained that she now stays away for her “own self-preservation.”
In the past, Meghan and Harry have proven their enthusiasm for exchanging private anniversary gifts. “They love to do their own take on traditional wedding gifts,” a source told People in 2020. “The first anniversary was paper, and Meghan wrote out the wedding speech and had it framed for him.” In 2020, they continued the tradition. “They both gave each other gifts based on ‘cotton.’ Undoubtedly, it was a very creative and romantic gesture as all their gifts are to one another.” The traditional third anniversary gift is leather, which isn’t quite as versatile, but if anyone can turn it into a thoughtful gift, it’s Meghan and Harry.
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