A prominent mental health organization has named the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as its Humanitarians of the Year, an honor that has immediately ignited controversy among royal commentators.
The couple is set to receive the award from Project Healthy Minds during a gala in New York City, coinciding with World Mental Health Day. The organization cited their global advocacy for mental well-being and their creation of online safety initiatives for young people as key reasons for the recognition. Central to their work is the Archewell Foundation, established in 2020, which operates on a mission to “show up, do good” and mobilize community action. More recently, they launched The Parents’ Network, a support initiative for families affected by online abuse.
However, the decision has been met with sharp criticism. Royal analyst Richard Fitzwilliams publicly questioned the selection, arguing that the couple’s very public estrangement from their families and their critiques of royal institutions make them unsuitable standard-bearers for a humanitarian honor.
“While their work in mental health is certainly welcome,” Fitzwilliams stated, “their approach has often been deeply destructive for personal and financial gain. Winners of such an award should embody a positive and unifying approach, which their recent history contradicts.”
He specifically took issue with the award citation, which references the Duchess as a “cultural catalyst for positive change” and lists the Duke’s memoir, Spare, among his achievements. Fitzwilliams contends that their treatment of family members ultimately disqualifies them from being ideal recipients of a humanitarian accolade.
The award highlights the ongoing tension between the Sussexes’ philanthropic endeavors and the persistent scrutiny of their personal conduct, raising questions about the metrics used to define humanitarianism in the public eye.
