“They’re there even when nobody’s looking,” Chef José Andrés reveals Harry and Meghan’s quiet acts of giving
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have kept much of their post-royal life deliberately private, but a close friend has pulled back the curtain on a side of the couple that rarely makes headlines: their quiet, consistent charitable efforts carried out well away from the spotlight.
Chef José Andrés, founder of the humanitarian organisation World Central Kitchen and a longtime friend of the Sussexes, spoke warmly to People Magazine about the couple’s private generosity, describing a pair who spring into action whenever a crisis strikes, without seeking recognition.
“Nobody finds out about those moments and they do it often, all the time,” the chef said, painting a picture of a couple whose instinct, when disaster hits, is to reach out and ask, “What can we do here and can we help you?”
Andrés also offered a glimpse into their home life in Montecito, California, where Harry and Meghan have been based since stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
He described the couple as grounded and family-focused, with their kitchen at the heart of daily life. “They made their kitchen the meeting place like every other family,” he said. He was particularly struck by Meghan’s relationship with her children and food. “I love how Meghan interacts with her children and food,” Andrés added.
The couple has built largely separate professional paths since relocating to their Montecito estate. Harry has focused on charity engagements and advocacy work, while Meghan has been developing her lifestyle brand, As Ever. Together, they continue to oversee Archewell Philanthropies, their joint foundation through which much of their formal humanitarian work is channelled.
Despite living far from the royal family and navigating relentless public scrutiny, Andrés said the Sussexes have managed to carve out something resembling a normal existence while never fully stepping away from their sense of responsibility toward others.
“They can decide to live a life in the comfort of their home, but I love that they are there even when nobody’s looking; they’re there just making sure that they can also be part of the solution,” he said. It was a sentiment that clearly means a great deal to the chef, who closed with a simple but telling declaration: “That’s why I’m very proud to call them friends.”