They relished some delicious Chicken and Waffles at this iconic soul food establishment. This visit came after a couple of days in New York City, where they participated in various charity events, including meetings with global leaders at the United Nations.
In addition to indulging in Melba's famous Southern Fried Chicken and eggnog waffles, the couple also ordered a variety of dishes, such as spring rolls, catfish, collard greens, and yams. Later on, Melba Wilson, the restaurant's owner, expressed her gratitude on social media, stating that Prince Harry and Meghan had committed to donating $25,000 to support the restaurant's COVID-19 Employee Relief Fund. This fund was established to provide financial assistance to hourly workers who were adversely affected by the pandemic.
Melba Wilson conveyed her honor in welcoming Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to Melba's restaurant. She expressed her thankfulness for their pledge to contribute $25,000 and hoped to host them again in the future. However, after that initial social media post, the restaurant did not provide any further updates or confirm whether Meghan and Harry had indeed made the promised contribution.
There was even a comment from a fan suggesting that the restaurant had not received the promised donation, and Melba Wilson had liked that comment. In a 2022 interview, Melba Wilson expressed her frustration, claiming that Meghan and Harry had exploited the situation and the reputation of her restaurant to gain media attention but had not followed through on their commitment to contribute.
Melba's restaurant, named after its founder Melba Wilson, is a well-known soul food destination in New York City. This Black-owned establishment was established in 2005 and offers a diverse menu featuring comfort foods such as Melba's spring rolls, Southern crab cakes, fried catfish strips, and more. They also serve creative entrees like Southern fried chicken wings, eggnog waffles, and barbecue turkey meatloaf.
Located on 114th Street in Harlem, Melba's restaurant not only serves delicious food but also provides job opportunities to individuals who may have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Employee Relief Fund was initiated to offer financial support to hourly workers at the restaurant, considering the challenges many families faced during the pandemic.
This fund was established through a partnership with Team Unity Incorporated, a nonprofit organization that champions diversity, equality, and inclusion initiatives. The fund's primary objective is to raise a minimum of $250,000, and thanks to the generosity of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, it received 10% of its fundraising goal in the same year.
However, subsequent reports have indicated that all contributions to the fund came from Proctor and Gamble (PNG), with no mention of contributions from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
