Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Choose 7 Charities To Receive Their May 19 Wedding Gifts

Kensington Palace has confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have asked guests invited to their May 19 wedding at St George's Chapel at Windsor -- and people worldwide who wish to celebrate the occasion of their wedding with gifts -- to support seven charities chosen by the couple. The list of charities is focused on the couples' own passions and they include sport for social change, women's empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, HIV and the Armed Forces.

'Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle are incredibly grateful for the goodwill shown to them since the announcement of their engagement and are keen that as many people as possible benefit from this generosity of spirit,' the statement explained. The Palace reminded global citizens that Harry and Markle do not have any formal relationships with the designated charities, but they are keen to 'amplify and shine a light on their work'. 

The seven charities are: CHIVA (Children's HIV Association), the homelessness charity Crisis, the Myna Mahila Foundation which supports women in Mumbai's urban slums, Scotty's Little Soldiers which helps bereaved Armed Forces children, StreetGames which uses sport to change lives, marine conservation charity Surfers against Sewage and The Wilderness Foundation UK, which promotes the enjoyment of wild nature.

Leaders of the chosen charities are already responding. 

'We are grateful for the opportunity to raise awareness of the complex issues for young people growing up with HIV,' Dr Amanda Williams, Chair of CHIVA, said. 'We are a very small charity and through our work we support over 1,000 young people living with HIV. All donations will make a significant difference to our programmes of work and lead to direct improvements in the lives of these young people.'

Crisis, the national charity for homeless people, said it is 'hugely grateful' for the public support. Myna Mahila founder Suhani Jalota said the donations will vital in helping the organisation, which Meghan visited last year, expand its reach across Mumbai.