Prince William and Meghan Markle may be closer in approach than they appear. Both have tied their public work to causes they care deeply about. But a new report argues that one key difference has shaped the impact of those efforts. According to the piece, William has been more successful at turning celebrity connections into a clear philanthropic strategy.
Prince William and Meghan Markle’s strategy almost matches, according to a report
Prince William’s latest appearance at London Climate Action Week has prompted comparisons with Meghan Markle’s charity strategy. In an opinion piece for Express Online, senior showbiz reporter Michelle Marshall argued that William has done something Meghan has not fully managed.
On Monday, the future monarch was photographed alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and Emma Watson at a business forum for The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife. The event also shone a spotlight on Earthshot. It is the environmental prize William launched in 2020 to fund solutions to the climate crisis.
William used the forum to explain why the project matters so much to him personally. He said the work helps “keep my environmental anxiety at bay” and “helps me sleep at night.” Over the years, Earthshot has gained an impressive list of supporters. Hollywood figures such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, and Matthew McConaughey have backed the initiative. Broadcaster Sir David Attenborough and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have also lent their support.
That, the report argued, is where Meghan may have “missed a trick”. The Duchess of Sussex has long spoken about issues such as women’s rights, equality, mental health, and resilience. She and Prince Harry have also been recognised for some of that advocacy with honors.
However, Marshall argued that “the one thing the royals have done completely different from the Sussexes is align their charity work with celebrities who are passionate about the same causes.” In William’s case, that has helped create a focused public message around one urgent mission.
Meghan has also collaborated with well-known figures through the Archewell Foundation and her “Archetypes” podcast. Guests included Serena Williams, Mariah Carey, and Paris Hilton, with conversations often centered on female empowerment and public perception. Yet the report suggested those connections do not link directly to a broader charitable mission.
“I totally respect her hustle,” Marshall wrote. Still, she argued that Meghan might have benefited from taking “a leaf out of William’s book” by channeling her celebrity relationships into a more focused advocacy campaign.
