The Queen is set to hand the Duchess of Sussex her first royal patronages before Meghan goes on maternity leave in the spring
- The Duchess of Sussex will be handed her first royal patronages in the new year
- Royal patronages sees royals lend their names to organisations and charities
- Meghan recently met with artistic director Rufus Norris of the National Theatre
The Duchess of Sussex is set to receive her first royal patronage from the Queen in the new year, as the monarch looks to further reduce her workload after turning 92 this year.
Discussions are said to be ‘ongoing’ as to what role Meghan will take on, with royal insiders speculating that the former actress could be handed causes that reflect her interest in feminism and the arts.
The Duchess, 37, is reported to have met the Queen for tea at Buckingham Palace, along with her husband Prince Harry, last week to discuss her potential new patronages, with an announcement set to be made by February.
The Duchess of Sussex will receive her first royal patronages in the new year after having recent discussions with the Queen
She will then visit each of the charities or organisations before taking maternity leave ahead of giving birth to the couple’s first child in the spring, according to the Sunday Times.
It comes after the Queen dealt out a range of patronages to Harry, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as she relinquished her association with more than 20 organisations in December 2016.
Prince Harry was made patron of the Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football League after the Queen relinquished her role while the Duchess of Cambridge took on the patron role for All England Lawn.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said that they could not comment on what the patronages could be.
Rumours of Meghan receiving her first patronage first came about after the Duchess of Sussex met with artistic director Rufus Norris, 53, of the National Theatre.
Speculation surrounded the patronages began to surface after the mother-to-be met artistic director Rufus Norris, 53, of the National Theatre
The prestigious role allows members of the Royal Family to provide important publicity work for charities and contribute to a worthy cause.
Currently there are more than 3,000 charities that have a member of the Royal Family as their patron, ranging from the Welsh Rugby Union to Save the Children UK.
At the end of 2016, Buckingham Palace announced the Queen was stepping down from 25 of the 600 organisations she was patron of.
The charities included the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, the Royal Institution of Great Britain, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Battersea Dogs Home and Barnardo’s.
The Queen’s Royal patronages and who they were passed on to
The Queen is patron of more than 600 organisations and charities in the country
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust- Prince Charles
Royal Institution of Great Britain- Prince Charles
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust-Prince Charles
Battersea Dogs Home- The Duchess of Cornwall
Barnardo’s- The Duchess of Cornwall
Royal School of Needlework- The Duchess of Cornwall
Royal African Society- The Duke of Cambridge
Welsh Rugby Union- Prince William
Amateur Swimming Association- The Duke of Cambridge
Action for Children- Duchess of Cambridge
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) Wimbledon- The Duchess of Cambridge
Lawn Tennis Association (LTA)- The Duchess of Cambridge
Blind Veterans UK- HRH The Countess of Wessex
Rugby Football Union- Prince Harry
Rugby Football League- Prince Harry
Edinburgh International Festival- HRH The Earl of Wessex
Sport and Recreation Alliance- The Earl of Wessex
British Cycling Federation- The Countess of Wessex
NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)- The Duke of York
Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund- The Duke of York
British Science Association- The Duke of York
Institution of Civil Engineers- The Princess Royal
Animal Health Trust- The Princess Royal
Royal Geographical Society- The Princess Royal
Save the Children UK- The Princess Royal
Source: www.royal.uk