Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have supported a New Zealand social enterprise which crafts knitwear for families in need.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who spent Christmas in their new £11million ($15million) home in the Santa Barbara neighbourhood of Montecito with their son Archie, one, bought 100 hats from Make Give Live.
According to the New Zealand Herald, Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, reached out to the Auckland-based organisation – which works on a buy one, give one model – to buy the products in their son’s name, allowing 200 hats to be distributed to families in need next winter.
It’s not the first time this year that the royal couple have supported Make Give Live since on New Year’s day they shared a picture of baby Archie wearing a Cocobear hat from the label while being held by his father in Canada.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have supported New Zealand social enterprise Make Give Live which crafts knitwear for families in need. On New Year’s day they shared a snap of baby Archie wearing a Cocobear hat from the label while being held by his father in Canada (above)
The image, which Make Give Live founder Claire Conza says resulted in thousands of orders from around the world, was shared on the couple’s previous Instagram account Sussex Royal.
Speaking about Meghan and Prince Harry’s latest show of support, Ms Conza told the publication: ‘As Make Give Live operates on a buy one, give one model, this will allow the group to make an extra 200 hats to distribute to families in need next winter through the various charities it supports.’
Ms Conza also revealed that she received a letter from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex regarding the purchase, which she called a ‘wonderful gift for the organization’.
‘Demand for the hats have continued throughout the year and the sales have created an opportunity to support even more Kiwis through a tough 2020,’ she added, explaining that more than 3,500 hats have been donated to people in need.
The Make Give Live founder also recalled how she’d tried to thank the couple and asked on social media how they could get a card to them.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured with Archie in September 2019), who spent Christmas in their new £11million ($15million) home in the Santa Barbara neighbourhood of Montecito with their son Archie, one, bought 100 hats from Make Give Live
Ms Conza sent a Christmas card to the Sussex family but their response suggests the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, may have played a part in ensuring the couple received the thanks.
‘It said Jacinda Ardern had let them know we were trying to get in touch and that Archie continues to wear our beanies as they have one in every size,’ said Ms Conza.
In January, Make Give Live revealed they had been inundated with orders after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared a photo of their son Archie wearing one of its knitted hats on New Year’s Day.
Make Give Love said they were ‘overwhelmed’ with demand, receiving ‘multiple orders a second’ after the duo shared the unseen photo on their Instagram account.
Meghan and Prince Harry released a family holiday card (pictured) ahead of their first American Christmas in Montecito, California
The candid snap showed a seven-month-old Archie in the $47 hat (£24.95), bundled against the cold in his father’s arms, standing beside a lake on what was thought to be their Canadian Christmas hideaway of Vancouver Island.
The ‘Cocobear’ beanie was gifted to the Sussexes during their royal tour of Australia and New Zealand in October 2018, after an aide approached Make Give Live for a hat to present to the then-pregnant Duchess.
The never-before-seen shot of baby Archie was shared in a highlight reel of the family’s most memorable moments from 2019.
The Duke and Duchess slipped Archie’s feet into a pair of fluffy Ugg boots for the photo, which were gifted to the couple in Sydney just hours after Kensington Palace announced they were expecting their first child.
The boots were presented by Australian Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove on the first day of the Oceania royal tour on Tuesday October 15, 2018. The smiling baby also wore a £36 brown cord jacket from British retailer Boden.