Good causes that have Meghan and Harry as patrons face uncertain future as couple say they will create new ‘charitable entity’ AND spend six months of the year in North America
- Duke and Duchess of Sussex are listed as patrons for several charities
- Good causes and Commonwealth groups also list them as honorary members
- Some say it’s ‘business as usual’ but there are fears about them moving
Fears are growing for the 20 good causes that list the Duke and Duchess as patrons after their decision to step down and create their own new charity.
Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, have more than a dozen patronages ranging from the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust to the Rugby Football Union and Rhino Conservation in Botswana.
Their bombshell statement announcing they plan to ‘step down as senior royals’ and ‘split their time between the UK and North America’ claimed they will still honour their patronages.
Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, have more than a dozen patronages ranging from the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust to the Rugby Football Union and Rhino Conservation in Botswana. Harry is pictured at the charity Sentebale in Botswana during their Africa tour of 2019
Meghan is pictured greeting a member of Smartworks, the Londob-based charity supporting vulnerable women she is a patron for
The Duchess of Sussex is pictured leaving the National Theatre, where she is a patron, this week
But it is unclear what the future holds for their relationships with other charities after they revealed plans for a ‘new charitable entity’ of their own.
Questions remain about how much time they will have left to dedicate to other charities once they launch their own this year.
Prince Harry is a patron of several branches of the Armed Forces, including RAF Honington and the Royal Marines.
The Ministry of Defence told MailOnline the Duke’s patronage is a matter ‘for the Palace’ to comment on.
WellChild, which offers supports to chronically ill children and their families, said: ‘From our perspective it’s business as usual.
‘They have already said they are honouring their patronages.’
Royal writer and expert Penny Junor said the couple’s move was reminiscent of the one made by Harry’s mother Diana, Princess of Wales in the 1990s.
She said not consulting the Prince of Wales about their decision, which could compromise their links to the Queen and the Commonwealth was ‘impetuous’ and ‘beyond bizarre’.
‘It has echoes of Diana when she suddenly announced after her separation (from Charles) that she was stepping back from 50 of her charities without consulting anybody.
‘All those charities were absolutely devastated.
‘It’s the same kind of impetuous behaviour,’ Ms Junor said.
The couple split from the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge last year, paving the way for the new ‘entity’.
The Sussexes claim the ‘geographic balance’ between Britain, Canada and the USA will facilitate the launch of their charitable foundation.
On their new Sussex Royal website it states: ‘In 2020, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to shape their charitable entity to respond to these pressing needs.
‘After carefully considering a number of foundation models, and having researched the incredible work of many well known and lesser known foundations, The Duke and Duchess are actively working to create something different,
‘A charitable entity that will not only help complement these efforts, but also advance the solutions the world needs most.’
They added that they will ‘continue to priortise’ the good causes and patronages they support.
It is not clear where the new charity would be based, but last night’s statement said they would be sharing the ‘full details of this exciting next step in due course’.
The Duke of Sussex is pictured in the stands at the Rugby World Cup Final between England and South Africa. He is a patron of the Rugby Football Union