Meghan set to spend a lot more time with the Queen

THE newest member of the royal family is set to spend a lot more time with the Queen herself, with the pair heading out on royal duties.

THE Duchess of Sussex will accompany the Queen when she carries out a series of official events in Cheshire next week, according to the royal family website.

The engagements will be the first time just the Queen and Meghan have taken part in royal events together - and it sends a very strong message about their relationship.

While the reigning monarch is close with Kate Middleton, there’s a significant difference in how she’s approached Meghan’s entry into the family.

Almost a year had gone by after Kate’s 2011 wedding to Prince William before the Queen arranged for them to partake in a solo engagement at London’s Fortum & Mason. Even then, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, was also invited.

Considering it’s been just a few short weeks since Meghan and Prince Harry said “I do”, it’s clear the Queen is embracing her new granddaughter-in-law - and that the pair may be even closer than everyone realised.

Next week, the newest member of the royal family will accompany the head of state when she opens both the Mersey Gateway Bridge at the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in the northern England town of Widnes and the Storyhouse Theatre in Chester.

Meghan (front) and the Queen during last month’s royal wedding. Picture: AFP

Meghan and the Queen will also have lunch at Chester Town Hall during the Cheshire away-day on June 14.

The duchess paid tribute to the Queen as an “incredible woman” when she described her first meetings with the head of state.

When interviewed to mark her engagement to Harry, Meghan said: “It’s incredible, I think, you know, to be able to meet her through his lens, not just with his honour and respect for her as the monarch, but the love that he has for her as his grandmother.

“All of those layers have been so important for me so that when I met her I had such a deep understanding and of course incredible respect for being able to have that time with her.” Meghan went on to say: “She’s an incredible woman.”

Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, has revealed her favourite moment from the royal wedding.

Aside from watching her daughter and Prince Harry recite their vows, Ms Ragland said her highlight of the big day was meeting the Queen.

A source told US Weekly: “Doria is saying the biggest highlight of the wedding, of course after watching her daughter say ‘I do’ to the man she loves, was meeting the Queen.

“It would have been extremely intimidating for anyone, but Meghan and Harry really did a marvellous job of preparing her (with) what to expect.”