RICHARD EDEN: William and Kate quietly boost their charity with a TV bigwig while Harry and Meghan desperately try to establish themselves as a Hollywood ‘power couple’
As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle desperately try to establish themselves as a Hollywood ‘power couple’, the Prince and Princess of Wales are quietly strengthening their own show business links.
I can reveal that Prince William and Catherine have appointed the producer of hit BBC drama Call the Midwife as a director of their Royal Foundation. Dame Pippa Harris will also be a director of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund Trustee Company.
“It’s a big appointment,” a royal source told me. “Lady Pippa knows everyone and is an expert at getting things done.”
Dame Pippa, 56, founded the hugely successful film company Neal Street Productions with Oscar-winning director Sir Sam Mendes 58. As well as co-creating Call the Midwife, they have produced award-winning films including Revolutionary Road, starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, and most recently the World War I epic 1917, for which they received two Bafta Awards and a Golden Globe.
Dame Pippa is also a chair of Bafta, of which Prince William is the Royal Patron.
Prince William and Catherine have appointed the producer of hit BBC drama Call the Midwife as a director of their Royal Foundation
Dame Pippa Harris will also be a director of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund Trustee Company
As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle desperately try to establish themselves as a ‘power couple’ in Hollywood, the Prince and Princess of Wales are quietly strengthening their own show business links
The Royal Foundation originally included Prince Harry and there were concerns it would suffer after he and Meghan step down in 2020. In fact, the opposite appears to be the case.
It enjoyed an increase in revenue the following year, to an astonishing £11.78 million. This is almost double the £6.68 million raised in 2019, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were still involved. Last year’s revenue was £10.1m, according to newly published accounts.
The foundation develops programs and initiatives based on the Prince and Princess’ interests, particularly in the areas of early childhood, mental health and the environment.
Last year Lord (William) Hague, the former Tory leader, left politics to concentrate on his work as chairman of the Royal Foundation. He formed a cordial relationship with Prince William and Catherine while he was Foreign Secretary and worked with them to combat the illegal wildlife trade. As chairman of the foundation, Haag replaced Prince George’s godfather, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, who had been William’s right-hand man for 15 years.