Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have seemingly distanced themselves from a significant initiative aimed at combating the online dangers faced by children. This project, initially spearheaded by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex through their Archewell Foundation, is known as the Parents’ Network. It was introduced in August 2024 with a mission to support parents who have tragically lost children to suicide linked to online harm.

Both Harry and Meghan have been outspoken advocates against the perils posed by social media, emphasizing its impact on youth mental health. However, the Parents’ Network has recently been transitioned from Archewell Foundation, now rebranded as Archewell Philanthropies, to another organization known as ParentsTogether.

ParentsTogether is a non-profit that offers invaluable resources to parents concerned about the digital world’s effects on their children. This strategic shift was highlighted in October during an event in New York commemorating World Mental Health Day, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, now 41 and 44 respectively, officially announced the collaboration between the Parents’ Network and ParentsTogether.

But it seems the Parents’ Network has now effectively been transferred from the Archewell Foundation, now known as Archewell Philanthropies, to ParentsTogether.

The non-profit organisation also provides resources to parents worried about the impact of the digital world on youngsters.

Prince Harry, 41, and Ms Markle, 44, announced the ‘strategic partnership’ between the Parents’ Network and ParentsTogether in October at an event in New York to mark World Mental Health Day.

‘Expanding the parents’ movement and supporting them throughout is how real change happens,’ the Duke of Sussex said at the time.

‘That’s why we are so proud to announce tonight that The Parents’ Network is joining forces with ParentsTogether.’

Members of The Parents’ Network are pictured meeting in person for the launch of the new initiative

Harry and Meghan were shown embracing parents from The Parents’ Network as they met in person for its launch

Prince Harry, 41, and Ms Markle, 44, announced the ‘strategic partnership’ between the Parents’ Network and ParentsTogether in October at an event in New York to mark World Mental Health Day

Archewell is said to have given ParentsTogether the full operational capacity of the initiative as well as a cash grant to cover the first year of core operations.

‘This follows our established model where we incubate initiatives before transitioning them to independent, sustainable organisations – much like Invictus, Travalyst and others,’ an Archewell source said.

‘ParentsTogether has built trusted relationships with many of these families over years, and their expertise makes them the ideal permanent home for The Parents Network.

‘We couldn’t be more excited to see these families supported and amplified in such capable hands.’

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who share Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, first launched the Parents’ Network in August 2024 and provided a rare TV interview with an American broadcaster.

They said they want to ‘be a part of change for good’ when it comes to the ‘online space’.

‘All you want to do as parents is protect them,’ Ms Markle told CBS.

‘And so, as we can see what’s happening in the online space, we know that there’s a lot of work to be done there, and we’re just happy to be able to be a part of change for good.’

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan discussed child safety online during an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning (pictured)

The interview shared today by American broadcaster CBS featured a clip of Meghan hugging bereaved parents (pictured)

Prince Harry added: ‘At this point, we’ve got to the stage where almost every parent needs to be a first responder.

‘And even the best first responders in the world wouldn’t be able to tell the signs of possible suicide. Like, that is the terrifying piece of this.’

Last year he told the BBC that the couple wanted to ‘make sure that things are changed so that… no more kids are lost to social media.’

He said: ‘Life is better off social media. The easiest thing to say is to keep your kids away from social media. The sad reality is the kids who aren’t on social media normally get bullied at school because they can’t be part of the same conversation as everybody else.

‘We’re just grateful that our kids are too young to be on social media at this point.’

As well as those who have lost children, The Parents’ Network aims to support those whose children are struggling with ‘present-day issues of cyberbullying, depression and anxiety, sexual exploitation, eating disorders, and a range of other traumas related to social media use’.