Back in 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan paid a visit to Harlem, where they took the time to visit a local school and experienced the neighborhood's culture, including a taste of chicken and waffles at the renowned southern food restaurant, Melba's, run by Harlem local Melba Wilson.
Following their visit, Melba Wilson expressed gratitude to the couple on the restaurant's social media platforms for their commitment to donate $25,000 to the business's COVID-19 Employee Relief Fund. This fund was established by the restaurant to raise $250,000 to provide financial assistance to the numerous hourly workers impacted by the pandemic.
In a tweet, the restaurant stated, "It was such an honor to officially welcome Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to Melba's. I'm so thankful for their commitment to donate $25,000 and hope to welcome them back soon. Thank you for dining with us. #sweetpotatopiehugs." During their visit, Prince Harry expressed his delight in trying chicken and waffles for the first time, and fellow diners noted his fondness for collard greens, a family favorite often prepared by Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland.
Melba Wilson, the restaurant's owner, was pictured engaging in conversation with the couple during the meal, where she expressed her appreciation for their support and how their visit shed light on the Harlem community during a challenging period. She mentioned that Prince Harry and Meghan were kind and gracious during their visit.
The restaurant's ties to Prince Harry and Meghan's Whistle Stop tour in New York were significant as it partnered with the city to serve as a COVID-19 vaccine popup, aligning with the tour's primary focus on promoting vaccine equity. Thanks to the generosity of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the fund received 10% of its fundraising goal in the same year.
However, subsequent reports have raised questions regarding the fulfillment of the promised donation. It has been suggested that all contributions to the fund came from Proctor and Gamble (PNG), with no mention of contributions from the Sussexes. This pattern is not uncommon, as often, the couple's collaborations or partnerships involve other parties making the actual financial contributions.
In this context, it has been noted that the couple charged companies or charities for expenses related to Meghan's clothing or speaking appearances. Prince Harry also reportedly requested a significant sum of $770,000 to attend a polo match in Germany shortly after an Invictus event, causing the offer of free tickets to be revoked. These incidents have contributed to changing perceptions of the couple among some observers.
