Writing on Instagram and through her As Ever newsletter on Sunday, October 11, the Duchess of Sussex shared that 100 percent of net proceeds from her lifestyle brand’s jams and teas will directly benefit the Malala Fund. The announcement was deliberately timed to coincide with the annual International Day of the Girl.
A New Philanthropic Partnership
“This International Day of the Girl, in partnership with Archewell Philanthropies, 100% of net proceeds from As Ever jams and teas will support Malala Fund and its vital work to ensure that every girl has access to free, safe, quality education,” Page Six reported, quoting the joint statement released by Markle and Yousafzai. “Tea for Two has never felt so good.”
The collaboration unites two prominent figures who have previously crossed paths. In 2020, Markle and Yousafzai participated in a virtual conversation hosted by the Malala Fund to discuss barriers to girls’ education and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students worldwide. The newly announced initiative aims to advance the Malala Fund’s core mission of securing 12 years of free, safe, and quality education for girls, operating in focus countries that include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Brazil, and Tanzania.
Return to the UK and Public Engagements
The partnership announcement sheds light on what was initially described by initial observers as a simple gathering of friends. On October 7, eagle-eyed onlookers spotted Markle, 45, and Yousafzai, 29, deep in conversation at the luxury Mayfair hotel. Markle was seen leaving the venue dressed in a cream-colored Co cashmere sweater, Ralph Lauren trousers, and a Tove camel coat.
This high-profile meeting marks one of the most prominent public outings for the Duchess since she, Prince Harry, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, relocated from California back to the United Kingdom at the end of August. Sources close to the family have indicated that the cross-continental move was undertaken to be closer to King Charles III, who is undergoing cancer treatment, and to allow their children to build deeper family ties.
In addition to her collaboration with the Malala Fund, Markle used the Sunday announcement to unveil a secondary charitable initiative. In partnership with Moms Offering More—a community initiative supported by the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation—she released a special-edition sweatshirt featuring the embroidered phrase “it’s the little things.” One hundred percent of the proceeds from the apparel will go toward supporting historically underserved youth and families across the United States and Canada.