Meghan Markle releases 40×40 birthday message on Archewell
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Meghan Markle celebrated her 40th birthday by launching a new social initiative on August 4. The Duchess of Sussex appeared on a video call with comedian Melissa McCarthy to introduce the Archewell 40 x 40 project to support women back into employment.
A description of the mentorship scheme shared on Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan’s Archewell website reads: “In reflecting on my 40th birthday and the many things I am grateful for, I’m struck that TIME IS AMONG OUR GREATEST AND MOST ESSENTIAL GIFTS: Time with our loved ones, time doing the things we love, time spent learning, laughing, growing, and the sacred time we have on this earth.
“Amongst the most valuable gifts of time is also time spent in service to others knowing that it can contribute to incredible change.
“To that last point, and with my 40th lap around the sun in mind, it made me wonder: what would happen if we all committed 40 minutes to helping someone else or to mentoring someone in need?
“And then what would happen if we asked our friends to do the same?”
In the lighthearted video chat with Melissa, that shows Meghan sitting in front of a large desk at her and Harry’s £11 million Montecito mansion, the Duchess smiles at the comedian’s jokes while managing to explain the concept for her project.
The initiative seems to have been inspired by a 2009 Nelson Mandela Foundation project and proves Meghan has “excellent ideas for good causes”, one royal expert has claimed.
Reacting to the video royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk: “Meghan’s 40th birthday video and statement on their website Archewell is linked to a good cause.
“As so many women around the world have lost or left their jobs during the pandemic she has asked 40 wealthy friends to give 40 minutes of mentorship to support women re-entering the workforce in the hope that they also inspire others to do so.”
He added: “It’s called the ’40 x 40′ project, seemingly based on Nelson Mandela Foundation’s project in 2009 which called for 67 minutes of helping others, linked to his 67-year fight against apartheid.
“Melissa McCarthy, one of Hollywood’s top comic stars, appears in the two minute clip and has fun making wisecracks with Meghan whilst wearing fancy dress and drinking tea.
“The jokey ambience continues when Harry makes a brief cameo appearance at the end.
“We also see inside the Sussexes luxurious home in Montecito.”
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Mr Fitzwilliams added: “There have been no photographs released of Lili yet but that is their choice.
“This is the sort of project which is imaginative and does help others, especially as so many women have also been involved in unpaid work such as caring and schooling during the pandemic.
“Several top names including Hillary Clinton and Princess Eugenie have signed up for this project.
“Meghan has excellent ideas for good causes and this birthday project proves it.”
Meghan and Harry severed ties with royal life in 2020 and launched their Archewell foundation at the start of the year.
The couple have gained financial independence from the Firm by signing a series of lucrative commercial deals and aim to continue their philanthropic work going forward.
Despite having to relinquish many of the charity roles they held as working royals, they have expressed their wish to continue a life of “public service.”
After it was confirmed they would not return as working members of the Firm in February, the couple issued the following statement: “As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to organizations they have represented, regardless of official role.
“We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”
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