Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have urged well-wishers to make a charity donation instead of sending them presents ahead of their wedding.

The couple, who will marry in Windsor on May 19, have named seven charities they want to see benefit from the move.

Their decision echoes that of Prince William and Kate Middleton, who raised more than £1m for charity when they urged people to make charitable donations to mark their 2011 wedding.

Four of the charities that are set to benefit are specifically aimed at supporting children and young people.

This includes Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA, which supports young people living with HIV in the UK, and The Wilderness Foundation UK, which uses nature to help build resilience among vulnerable teenagers from urban areas.

Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity to support children who have lost a parent while serving in the British armed forces, and Street Games, which supports young people through sporting activities, will also benefit.

Homelessness charity Crisis, marine conservation organisation Surfers Against Sewage and Mumbai based women’s charity Myna Mahila Foundation are also among the couple’s list of charities.

“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,” says a Kensington Palace statement.

“The couple have therefore asked that anyone who might wish to mark the occasion considers making a donation to charity, rather than sending a wedding gift. Prince Harry and Ms. Markle have personally selected seven organisations they would like to support, reflecting their shared values.

The statement adds: “ The couple have chosen charities which represent a range of issues that they are passionate about, including sport for social change, women's empowerment, conservation, the environment, homelessness, HIV and the Armed Forces. Many of these are small charities, and the couple are pleased to be able to amplify and shine a light on their work.”

Crisis chief executive Jon Sparkes said: “We are hugely grateful that Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are asking the public to support Crisis as they celebrate their wedding.

“Homelessness is one of the most urgent issues of our time, but at Crisis we know what it takes to end it. Donations will help us to support more people to leave homelessness behind through our housing, employment, education and advice services across the country, and to campaign for the changes needed to solve the homelessness crisis once and for all.”

Scotty’s Littler Soldiers founder Nikki Scott said: “To have been personally chosen by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is an incredible honour for Scotty’s Little Soldiers and we are extremely grateful for the opportunity.

“Having met Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace last year, I know that the Armed Forces and looking after the children our heroes have left behind is close to his heart.”

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