On September 9, 2025, Prince Harry made headlines with an extraordinary act of personal generosity, announcing a £1.1 million ($1.5 million) donation to BBC Children in Need. The donation, made entirely from his own funds rather than through his Archewell Foundation, stands out as one of the largest personal contributions by a member of the British royal family in recent memory. The money is earmarked to support young people affected by violence, with a primary focus on grassroots organizations in Nottingham, including the Community Recording Studio (CRS) and Epic Partners.
Prince Harry, now 40, is no stranger to charitable work, but this gesture marks a rare move for a royal. As reported by Newsweek, financial contributions from royals typically come through foundations or are made in less publicized sums. This time, Harry’s personal check was front and center. He made the announcement during a visit to CRS in Nottingham, where he was cheered by crowds and spent time with local youth, community leaders, and charity workers. The visit was part of a rare four-day trip to the UK, during which Harry made several solo charity appearances.
Arriving in Nottingham 45 minutes late due to London’s notorious traffic, exacerbated by Tube strikes, Harry traveled in a single black Range Rover, without the blue-light police escorts that once whisked him through the city. Since stepping down as a senior working royal in 2020, Harry no longer performs official royal duties or receives the privileges that come with them. Yet, his commitment to causes close to his heart remains undiminished.
“The incredible work being done by grassroots organizations like CRS and Epic Partners is not only inspiring—it's essential,” Harry said during his announcement, as quoted by BBC and Newsweek. “We’re grateful for the support of BBC Children in Need in helping changemakers in the city continue their mission to create safe spaces, build trust, and offer hope and belonging to young people who need it most.”
Harry’s connection to Nottingham runs deep. He’s worked alongside communities there for nearly 15 years, tackling youth violence and knife crime—issues he described as “among the most urgent facing this country.” Reflecting on his many visits, he added, “Nottingham has my respect, it always has, my commitment, and a permanent place in my heart.” He even joked about the local cuisine, saying, “I've lost count of the number of visits I've made here, and the amount of jerk chicken I've eaten on almost every occasion on the way back.”
The significance of this donation is not lost on those who benefit from it. Tony Okotie, director of impact at BBC Children in Need, expressed deep gratitude: “We are incredibly grateful to the Duke of Sussex for this generous donation. Youth work is a lifeline for many young people. It makes up around 30 percent of the projects that we support at BBC Children in Need. So this funding will help us reach even more communities where young people are ready to be heard and supported. Together, we can create spaces where young people feel safe, heard, and empowered to build brighter futures.”
Harry’s donation comes at a time of personal distance from his family. According to The Independent, while Harry was in Nottingham, his brother Prince William was just seven miles away, visiting a WI branch in honor of their late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Despite their physical proximity, the brothers remain estranged. On the previous day, the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, Harry privately laid flowers at her grave at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. He has not seen his father, King Charles III, face to face for more than 18 months—a rift exacerbated by ongoing legal battles over his security arrangements.
Harry’s personal wealth, which enabled this donation, comes from a variety of sources. As noted by The Independent and Newsweek, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a lucrative Netflix deal rumored to be worth more than £100 million five years ago. Harry also serves as chief impact officer at the mental health firm Better Up, previously had a major contract with Spotify, and inherited nearly £7 million from his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, as well as further inheritances from his grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
BBC Children in Need is supplementing Harry’s gift with an additional £300,000 to support the same grassroots organizations. The CRS, where Harry made his announcement, is a hub for young people pursuing music and creative arts. During his visit, Harry watched performances by CRS artists, held a private briefing with Children in Need, the Police and Crime Commission, and community outreach group Epic Partners. Jalle, a 24-year-old who showed Harry around the studio, told Newsweek: “We performed for him. We had him in the studio. I tried to get him in the booth...a little bit reluctant, didn't want to do it. But we all got in the booth and showed him what we do and what this place is about. He looked like he enjoyed it. It's nice to have him over here, you can see the love he has for this city and this place.”
Michelle McNinn, a local resident who cheered Harry outside the studio, shared her excitement with Newsweek: “It was amazing, absolutely amazing. I shouted him over. I said, 'Can we have a photo?' He said, 'I don't have time.' I said, 'Please, please, please, can we get a photo?' He ran over and we got a photo. I shook his hand and he was lovely. He said 'are you local' and 'thank you for waiting.' He was so nice.”
While the British royal family is no stranger to philanthropy, Harry’s approach is notably direct and personal. For comparison, Prince William and Princess Kate recently donated £3,500 to a London food bank after it was robbed, though the sum was disclosed by the charity rather than the royals themselves. William’s larger-scale projects, like the Earthshot Prize and Homewards, are funded by strategic partners and not directly from his own account. Harry’s donation, by contrast, is both substantial and explicitly personal—a gesture that some royal watchers see as setting a new precedent.
Harry’s UK visit continues with further engagements in London, including support for victims of recent blasts. Whether he will meet with King Charles III during this trip remains uncertain, as reported by Newsweek. Yet, for many, the real story is not the ongoing royal rifts, but the tangible impact of Harry’s generosity on young people in Nottingham and beyond.
For those who witnessed his visit, Harry’s presence and personal commitment brought a sense of hope and encouragement. As Adira, a pupil at Bluebell Primary School who met Harry at CRS, told the BBC, “I’m not washing my hand for a week.” That excitement, and the real change enabled by his donation, may prove to be the most enduring legacy of this royal homecoming.
