A quarter-million dollar donation made by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s charitable foundation to an organization run by Joe Biden‘s daughter should be thoroughly probed, a top figure from a think tank closely associated with the Trump White House claims.

The couple’s non-profit organization, Archewell, was revealed to be a founding partner of Ashley Biden’s initiative, Women’s Wellness (Spa)ce, to which they contributed the six-figure sum, according to the charity’s impact report published last December.

Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, is calling for ‘significant scrutiny’ of the donation made to the Philadelphia-based hub, which has been described as a ‘trauma-informed wellness center’ for women. 

The donation was made some time in the 2023-2024 tax year, according to Archewell’s annual report.

It came at a time when the couple seemed to be intent on finding a way into the Biden family inner circle when Joe Biden was still President.

DailyMail.com has previously reported that Meghan and Harry wanted to ride back to the US on Air Force One after the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 but were rebuffed by the White House.

The couple also invited then-First Lady Jill Biden to attend the Invictus Games, Harry’s Olympics-style competition for disabled veterans, but she turned them down, reportedly out of fear it could upset the British royal family.

Both episodes were said to have been part of a campaign by the Sussexes to gain political influence in the US: Meghan has even been rumored to be considering a run for President one day.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were revealed to be ‘founding partners’ of Ashley Biden’s wellness initiative through their charity, Archewell
Ashley Biden launched Women’s Wellness (Spa)ce, a trauma-informed wellness center’ for women based in Philadelphia

Gardiner was speaking in Washington after attending a hearing in the case brought by Heritage against the Department of Homeland Security to make public Harry’s immigration files.

Heritage claims that the Duke may have lied about his drug use or got special treatment to allow him to enter the US in 2020.

The think tank has closely worked with the new Trump administration and its ‘Project 2025’ is seen as heavily influential to the White House: the document’s author, Russell Vought was this week confirmed to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a key administrative post.

However, Trump said at the weekend he has no plans to have Harry deported. ‘I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife,’ the president said. ‘She’s terrible.’

Gardiner said there should be ‘full transparency and oversight’ of the $250,000 donation from Archewell.

He said: ‘I do think there should be significant scrutiny of that’.

Gardiner also took aim at Archewell for supporting a $500million initiative called Press Forward which is funding news organizations around the US.

‘There should be significant oversight of these activities’, he said.

The Impact Report for the Archewell Foundation’s third full year has been released
The new tax return for the Archewell Foundation shows what staff and directors are paid. Harry and Meghan do not claim a salary
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan traveled to Nigeria in May 2024 to champion the Invictus Games, which the Duke founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans

The donation to the Women’s Wellness (Spa)ce featured heavily in the most recent ‘Impact Report’ from Archewell, where the organization touted its biggest achievements.

It said: ‘Drawing from her experience with the criminal justice system, (Ashley) Biden’s initiative is inspired by her work with Mural Arts’ Women’s Reentry Program, providing support and opportunities for formerly incarcerated women.

‘The center aims to offer a safe haven and community for women impacted by trauma, providing resources such as nutritious food, exercise, meditation, and therapeutic interventions’.

An article in People magazine announcing the partnership added that the space is closely aligned with Meghan’s ‘mission to elevate mental health’.

Meghan’s political activities include personally advocating for paid leave to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, sometimes ringing them on their private numbers.

The Duchess and Harry met California governor Gavin Newsom in October 2020 for a video conference.

One poll during the last election found that Meghan was tied for the most votes among Democrats if a woman was the party’s candidate.

She got 25 percent, the same as former Vice President Kamala Harris, who went on to be the nominee after Biden dropped out.

But Harry and Meghan did not publicly endorse her, a likely reflection of the changing political reality and the controversy around the Duke’s visa.

Joe Biden and Jill Biden have been seen supporting Prince Harry’s philanthropic efforts at the Invictus Games years before they were president and first lady. Pictured: Biden shakes hands with Harry in Toronto in 2017
Then Vice President Joe Biden shares a moment with Prince Harry during the gold medal wheelchair rugby gold medal match of USA against Denmark at the Invictus Games in 2016
Prince Harry launches ’16 Invictus Games with Michelle Obama

Still, Meghan has made no secret of her political ambitions and her biographer and friend Omid Scobie has previously said that ‘has her eyes set on the US presidency’.

Scobie has said: ‘Meghan is the embodiment of the American dream. One day we may see Meghan become president.’

Such an interest in politics was said to be why Meghan was keen to retain her US passport after marrying Harry.

Meghan’s political activities extend back to 2016 when she supported Hillary Clinton and called Trump ‘divisive’ and a ‘misogynist’.

Meghan has also hired Michelle Obama’s former press secretary to work at Archewell, a move which once again raised questions about her plans to run for office.

The Duchess is currently promoting her lifestyle Netflix series ‘With Love, Meghan’, but a new report claims that there won’t even be any recipes.

A source said: ‘There is no point at which Meghan says ‘take 200 grams of flour’ or anything like that.

Last August, Harry and Meghan traveled to Colombia where they met with Vice President Francia Marquez  and her husband Yernei Pinillo and attended events to discuss the issues of cyberbullying and discrimination
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive for the 2024 Royal Salute Polo Challenge to Benefit Sentebale, in Wellington, Florida in April 2024
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle enjoy lavish weekend in Palm Beach

‘It’s a very magical and beautiful guide to hosting and entertaining rather than a how-to cookery show. It’s about inspiration – more like, ‘Why not try and make this kind of pasta or this kind of dessert’.

Harry is barely even in the show as the Sussexes continue to separate their brands, with Harry focusing on Invictus and his humanitarian work and Meghan focusing on her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.

ARO has yet to formally launch beyond Meghan sending a few dozen jars of jam to her celebrity friends.

Nobody at Archewell was available for comment.

However, a source close to the organization said that the idea the Sussexes were trying to curry favor with the Bidens was ‘flawed’ and that the donation was to further a shared interest with Ashley Biden in mental health.