What New Project Has Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Kate Middleton All Teaming Up?

May 12, 2019

Since the announcement that Prince William and Prince Harry were splitting the royal household, people have been wondering if there was tension between the royal brothers.

For a while, it seemed like new reports of rifts between William and Harry were coming out every day.

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The Duke of Sussex attends the ‘Our Planet’ premiere at the Natural History Museum with The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Cambridge, lending their joint support for the protection of our environment. As president of @africanparksnetwork, The Duke of Sussex continues to advocate for the communities and wildlife that coexist in some of the most vulnerable environments around the world. Be it human wildlife conflict or natural disasters, these communities (park rangers, school children, families) are on the frontline of conservation and we must do more to help them as we also work to safeguard the animals and landscapes that are in critical danger. A few recent photos that look back on: Prince Harry’s long time commitment to this cause as well as a glimpse into the work he and The Duchess of Sussex did in 2017. Their Royal Highnesses travelled to Botswana to assist Dr. Mike Chase of Elephants Without Borders in equipping a bull elephant with a satellite collar. Approximately 100 elephants are poached/killed every day for their ivory tusks. Using satellite technology allows conservationists to track their critical migratory patterns and to protect them and the local communities from human wildlife conflict. The elephant pictured was sedated for just 10 minutes before he was up and back with his herd. Tracking his movements has allowed conservationists to better protect him and other elephants and ensure heightened protection for these beautiful creatures moving forward. Photo credit: PA, Image 1

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Apr 4, 2019 at 12:33pm PDT

“They have always been different, they are very different characters,” a source told People of the royal brothers. “They drew great comfort from each other when their mother died, and as they’ve grown up together. But they need to be separate. Now Meghan has arrived it is the right time to make that break.”

Though the brothers have successfully split their households, they are coming together for a good cause.

What new project are Prince William and Prince Harry working on?

This week, the royal family announced that William, Harry, Kate Middleton, and Meghan Markle would be launching Shout. The program will help people who are in need of mental health assistance.

“I am proud to announce the launch of @GiveUsAShout, a new 24-7 text line that supports people who need advice in a tough moment,” the Kensington Palace account announced.

I am proud to announce the launch of @GiveUsAShout, a new 24-7 textline that supports people who need advice in a tough moment.

At the heart of Shout will be an incredible national volunteer community — I hope you will join us, and be part of something very special #GiveUsAShout pic.twitter.com/SgeCGtie1q
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 10, 2019

“At the heart of Shout will be an incredible national volunteer community — I hope you will join us, and be part of something very special #GiveUsAShout.”

The program will be affiliated with the Crisis Text Line which has been in the United States for over five years. Throughout its time in use, the line has received over 100 million messages.

When did the royals join the project?

Launching Shout has been in the works for years and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined the cause last year.

“Earlier last year, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex began supporting this vital program behind the scenes by hosting a meeting at Kensington Palace with contributors and partners,” the announcement on the couple’s Instagram page read.

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Today in the UK, a critical new 24/7 text helpline has launched – @giveusashoutinsta This free text messaging helpline is a private, silent and trusted way, for those experiencing mental health challenges to find a safe space to seek help and support. This is an extension of the @heads_together initiative backed by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Earlier last year, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex began supporting this vital program behind the scenes by hosting a meeting at Kensington Palace with contributors and partners. Last November, Their Royal Highnesses also made a surprise visit to meet with a group of Shout volunteers, and participated in a panel with mental health activist @bryonygordon hearing firsthand how the volunteers have found making the connection with vulnerable texters, a majority of whom are under 25, so rewarding – helping to get them through a moment of crisis to a calmer place, and giving them courage to find longer-term support. Powered by a team of trained volunteers, Shout has already quietly enlisted and trained 1,000 volunteers over the last 12 months, whom in turn have helped 60,000 people. SHOUT is modeled on @crisistextline in the US, which since 2013 has processed more than 100 million messages, Shout is the largest initiative of The Royal Foundation to date, in partnership with @heads_together. Tapping into the UK’s volunteer community, Shout aims to recruit 3,000 additional volunteers by the end of the year. Mobilizing a volunteer community with this innovative use of technology will go a long way in helping people get the critical help they need, often in the darkest of times, when those are privately and silently suffering and afraid to seek help. To sign up to volunteer, visit www.giveusashout.org Be the change you wish to see in the world.

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on May 10, 2019 at 2:39am PDT

“Last November, Their Royal Highnesses also made a surprise visit to meet with a group of Shout volunteers, and participated in a panel with mental health activist @bryonygordon hearing firsthand how the volunteers have found making the connection with vulnerable texters, a majority of whom are under 25, so rewarding – helping to get them through a moment of crisis to a calmer place, and giving them courage to find longer-term support.”

The team now has over 1,000 volunteers and has helped over 60,000 people.

Why is the royal family working with Shout?

The royal family has been advocates of mental health for years.

“They’re really the first celebrities around the world to really take on mental health,” Nancy Lublin, the CEO and founder of Crisis Text Line, told People. “It’s been so personal and they’ve done such a fantastic job elevating the issue and reducing stigma.”

And the royals aren’t just the faces of the program. They actually have a hand in making sure it runs smoothly.

“They’ve visited our offices multiple times in the U.K., they’ve met with volunteers — which is so special,” Lublin continued. “They’ve really been very hands-on.”

“I think it’s so powerful,” she said. “We really couldn’t ask for better spokespeople and champions. Mental health is the epidemic of this generation.”

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