Meghan Markle’s patronages revealed 8 months after royal wedding

Queen Elizabeth has handed over several of her royal patronages to Prince Harry’s wife Meghan as the new Duchess of Sussex begins to carve out her own royal niche.

Queen Elizabeth has handed over several of her royal patronages to Prince Harry’s wife Meghan as the new Duchess of Sussex begins to carve out her own royal niche.

Kensington Palace has announced Meghan will take on patronages of four organisations, reflecting areas she has long been interested in including the performing arts, education, support for women and animal welfare.

Pregnant Meghan, an American TV actor before she married the Queen’s grandson Prince Harry last year, has inherited two patronages from Queen Elizabeth — the National Theatre and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

The 92-year-old Queen has been the royal patron of the two organisations for 45 years and 33 years respectively.

Meghan Markle has four new royal patronages close to her heart. Picture: Getty Images

Royal patronages bring invaluable publicity and fundraising opportunities to charities and community organisations, and the 92-year-old Queen is gradually handing some of hers to other members of the royal family as she ages.

Meghan was trained in theatre before moving into TV, and Kensington Palace said she looked forward to supporting the National Theatre’s mission to make world class theatre available to everyone.

The 37-year-old Duchess of Sussex will also become patron of Smart Works, which helps long-term unemployed and vulnerable women get back into employment, helping with interview coaching and mentoring, and providing work-ready clothing for them.

Dog lover Meghan will also become patron of Mayhew, a historic charity which teaches animal welfare and responsible pet ownership for young people, works to keep homeless people and their dogs together, and runs a pet refuge to care for pets when their owners are in crisis.

The patronages have been announced eight months after the royal couple wed. Picture: AFP

Mayhew also works in Afghanistan, Georgia, Russia and India to help improve animal welfare.

“The Duchess is delighted to become Patron of both national and grassroots organisations that are part of the fabric of the UK, and is very much looking forward to working with them to bring wider public attention to their causes,’’ Kensington Palace said in a statement.

“Her Royal Highness feels she can use her position to focus attention on, and make a particular difference to these organisations and, more widely, the sectors they each represent.

“The Duchess of Sussex is very much looking forward to working closely with these organisations, and her continued work with The Royal Foundation of which she is joint Patron along with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Prince William and wife Catherine) and the Duke of Sussex (her husband Prince Harry).’’

Originally published as Meghan Markle’s patronages revealed 8 months after royal wedding