While Prince William and Kate Middleton are receiving high praise for their philanthropic efforts in Time Magazine’s newest list, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are noticeably absent—and it’s sparking plenty of chatter.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex didn’t make the cut for Time Magazine’s inaugural list of the 100 most influential philanthropists in 2025.
And although they’ve been recognized by the publication in past years, this time around, the spotlight has shifted elsewhere.
Familiar Faces Take the Lead on Time’s Philanthropy List
This year’s influential do-gooders include the likes of Oprah Winfrey, David Beckham, and—making waves in the royal category—the Prince and Princess of Wales.
William and Kate were applauded for their impactful work tackling homelessness and championing early childhood development through their Royal Foundation.
Prince William’s Earthshot Prize also earned a special mention, with the magazine noting the couple’s focus on social issues over royal tradition.
But Where Are Harry and Meghan?
While William and Kate were celebrated for their hands-on charitable work, Harry and Meghan’s names were nowhere to be found.
That’s despite their ongoing projects through the Archewell Foundation, which promotes mental health awareness and combats online harm.
The omission stings a bit more when you remember that the Sussexes previously made Time’s traditional Time100 list—not once, but twice, in 2018 and 2021.
A Cover to Remember—But Not for the Right Reasons
Back in 2021, the couple even landed a Time Magazine cover.
But instead of applause, the portrait ignited an online roast-fest.
The image showed Meghan standing confidently in front, dressed in all white, while Harry stood behind her, dressed in black and leaning on her shoulder.
The shot was taken outside their $14.65 million Montecito home in California—and many on social media had thoughts.
Social Media Didn’t Hold Back on That 2021 Cover
Critics online didn’t hesitate to mock the image. Many thought the portrait was overly airbrushed, with some joking it looked “CGI” and calling it a “terrible retouching job.”
Others used memes and reaction gifs—like a clip of Gordon Ramsay yelling “Oh f*** off”—to mock the couple’s pose and perceived dynamic.
Some suggested the photo revealed the power balance in their relationship, calling it “The Meghan Show” with Harry as the “supporting actor.”
Defending the Portrait and the Partnership
Despite the backlash, Time’s picture editor Dilys Ng stood by the choice, saying the cover captured the “powerful dynamic as equal partners.”
Other photos from the shoot showed the couple smiling at each other in green outfits or posing in coordinated grey ensembles, selected by celebrity stylists Clare and Nina Hallwroth.
The spread accompanied a profile written by their friend and chef José Andrés, whose World Central Kitchen organization receives support from the couple’s foundation.
A Sincere Tribute From a Close Ally
In the profile, Andrés praised the couple for their compassion and willingness to take action.
“They don’t just opine. They run toward the struggle,” he wrote.
He described them as people “blessed through birth and talent, and burned by fame,” but still choosing to help others.
At the time, Harry and Meghan said they were “humbled” to be included on the list, adding a post on their Archewell website to express their gratitude and support for others featured, such as Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Still Active, Just Not on the List
Despite being snubbed this year, Meghan hasn’t stayed out of the spotlight.
In April, she spoke as the keynote speaker at the Time100 summit in New York.
During her appearance, she shared that she felt “the happiest” she’s ever been.
“Of all the things that have happened in my life, I never would have imagined that getting here, at this point, I feel just so happy and grateful. I really do,” Meghan said.
Meghan on Public Perception: “I Don’t Go Online”
She also revealed that she avoids reading things about herself online—especially in the aftermath of mixed reactions to her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, which was not warmly received.
Quoting Tina Fey, she joked: “If you’re feeling good about yourself, just go online.” And so, she doesn’t.
Family First, Even Over Glitzy Events
After the summit, Meghan and Harry skipped out on a high-profile gala, choosing instead to head home to be with their son Archie.
The reason? He was just about to lose his first tooth.
While they may not be gracing Time’s philanthropy list this year, it’s clear Harry and Meghan are still focused on the causes—and the people—that matter most to them.