Meghan Markle fans start social media fundraiser which sees charities inundated with donations

Charities supported by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been “floored” by an influx of donations, following an online campaign started by royal fans.

The global fundraiser was set up by fan account @freepeeper on Mother’s Day (Sunday 31 March) in honour of the impending arrival of Meghan and Harry’s first child this month.

Supporters have been using the hashtag #GlobalSussexBabyShower to spread the word on social media.

One of the charities to benefit is CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education) who tweeted that they were completely “floored” by support and donations in response to the campaign.

The charity has received a total of £14,000 in donations so far, as of Monday afternoon.

Last month, Meghan was announced as Vice-President of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, which supports the CAMA project, the alumnae association for CAMFED graduates. The Queen is Patron of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, while Harry is President.

Another chosen organisation is animal charity Mayhew, of which Meghan is patron. They have received over £4,000 so far and tweeted that they were “incredibly touched by the generosity of everyone.”

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The third is one of Harry’s patronages, WellChild, which provides care for seriously ill children and young people in the UK.

CEO Colin Dyer says: “We have been surprised and delighted by the donations from supporters of #GlobalSussexBabyShower. It’s great that an online outpouring of goodwill can lead to practical help for children with serious illness and their families.”

PR expert Nick Ede tells Yahoo UK‘s ‘The Royal Box,‘ that the campaign is a lovely way of celebrating Meghan and her forthcoming arrival.

He says: “Strangers to her, fans of hers and Harry’s, have come together collectively, taken their own money and giving it to good causes, that’s a brilliant thing to happen.

“So in many ways, the Meghan effect is very positive and is changing people’s lives, without her doing anything but just being part of the Royal Family, so it’s a good thing.”

The duchess was thrown an official baby shower by her close friends Serena Williams and Amal Clooney in New York in February.

When Harry and Meghan got married last May, the couple asked well-wishers to make a donation to one of their seven chosen charities, instead of sending wedding presents.

The organisations they selected represented a range of issues the couple are passionate about, including sport for social change, women’s empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, HIV and the Armed Forces.

Meghan currently has no more scheduled public appearances in her diary until she gives birth. Kensington Palace are yet to announce where she will have her baby, but it has been reported that the couple have chosen a hospital in Windsor, and not the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s.