Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Ask For Charitable Donations for 7 Favorite Charities Instead of Wedding Gifts

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 9 April 2018

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding is fast approaching, taking place in just over a month, on May 19. And with the royal nuptials happening so soon, the couple has announced what they'd like as wedding gifts.

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Rather than asking for presents, as Prince Harry and Markle likely already have everything they need for their home, the couple have requested that guests make donations to one of seven named charities.

On the official website for the royal wedding, a statement reveals that "anyone who might wish to mark the occasion considers making a donation to charity, rather than sending a wedding gift. Prince Harry and Ms. Markle have personally selected seven organisations they would like to support, reflecting their shared values." Which means anyone can get Meghan and Harry a wedding gift!

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have asked that people make charity donations instead of #royalwedding gifts. They have chosen causes including sport for social change, women's empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, HIV and the Armed Forces.April 9, 2018

As both Markle and Prince Harry are often seen publicly supporting a variety of charities, their move to ask for donations instead of wedding gifts isn't all that surprising.

The charities they've selected are Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA), Crisis (which seeks to end homelessness), the Myna Mahila Foundation (which empowers women in Mumbai's urban slums), Scotty’s Little Soldiers (which supports children who have lost a parent in the Armed Forces), StreetGames (which encourages young people to embrace sport), Surfers Against Sewage, and The Wilderness Foundation UK.

When Markle and Prince Harry visited Wales earlier this year, they saw the impact that StreetGames had managed to have on the local community. Both were overwhelmed by the support and gratitude they received from a group of children who utilize the charity, and there's a sweet video of them meeting their fans:

This is #PrinceHarry and #MeghanMarkle at a @StreetGames event in Wales - the charity is set to benefit hugely from a share of donations given to the couple in lieu of wedding presents, it seems..... pic.twitter.com/LFvC8VouKKApril 9, 2018

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Amy Mackelden is a contributing editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.