It’s thanks and goodbye to patrons Harry and Meghan
Charities and organisations pay tribute as Sussexes lose royal titles and patronages
SEVERAL of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s former patronages have thanked the couple for their support following the news they will not be returning as working members of the Royal Family.
Harry and Meghan’s honorary military appointments and royal patronages of sporting associations and charities will be returned to the Queen to be redistributed to other royals.
The Palace announcement means the couple, who were designated as the Baron and Baroness of Kilkeel following their wedding in 2018, will lose all royal titles.
Harry and Meghan made just one visit together to Northern Ireland to mark their engagement two months before their nuptials on a one-day visit which saw thousands of people gather in Belfast’s Royal Avenue where the couple enjoyed lunch and a tour of the Crown Bar.
The couple were also shown the work of a peace initiative near Lisburn as well as a tour of Titanic Belfast.
The visit came a year after Prince Harry made his first official visit here, carrying a series of engagements in Ballymena, Belfast and Hillsborough in September 2017.
As their first official visit overseas as a royal couple in June 2018, they travelled to the Republic, carrying out engagements in Dublin where they were greeted by then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the city’s Government Buildings
The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust — only founded in 2018 — of which the duke and duchess were president and vice-president respectively said it was “lucky” to have had their support.
The trust said in a statement: “The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust exists to support young people around the world who are delivering practical help to those who need it most.
“We have been very lucky to have had the keen support and encouragement of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in our formative years.
“They have enabled us to make fast progress and have helped us to take the organisation to readiness for its next phase.
“We are glad that they remain in our circle of supporters.”
It added: “Our focus, as always, is on the young people we work alongside. We will be pressing on with vigour to help them reach even more people with the essential services they provide.”
The National Theatre, one of Meghan’s patronages, thanked her for “championing” its work with communities and young people across the UK.
It said in a tweet: “The National Theatre is very grateful for the support offered by the Duchess of Sussex throughout the course of her patronage.
“The duchess championed our work with communities and young people across the UK, and our mission to make theatre accessible to all.
“As Buckingham Palace have stated, the process of appointing a new patron is ongoing and will be announced in due course.”
The Rugby Football League, one of Harry’s patronages, said: “The Rugby Football League thanks the Duke of Sussex for his time, care and commitment in supporting Rugby League at all levels in recent years — from the children’s game to the Challenge Cup, the England teams and RLWC2021.”
Elsewhere, the Rugby Football Union said: “We would like to thank Prince Harry for his time and commitment to the RFU as Patron and Vice Patron.
“The RFU has greatly valued his contribution to promoting and supporting the game.”
The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) thanked Meghan for her work promoting “access and inclusion”.
It said in a statement: “We thank the duchess for her support, which has shone a light on higher education, the impact it has on individuals and communities, and the importance of access and inclusion.”
It is understood the couple will continue to work with charities with whom they established a relationship outside of their role as royals.
Smart Works, a charity helping women back into employment by offering them smart clothes and interview coaching, confirmed Meghan would remain as patron.
Meghan will also continue to work with Mayhew, a London-based animal welfare charity.
‘The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust was lucky to have had the support and encouragement of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’