Queen gives William new role in Church of Scotland just days after Harry quit as senior royal

The Queen has given Prince William a new role in the Church of Scotland as Prince Harry prepares to step back as a senior royal.

The Duke of Cambridge has been made the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and will act as the sovereign’s personal representative at the annual meeting.

It comes almost immediately after his brother, the Duke of Sussex, made the ten-hour journey to Vancouver on Monday to join Meghan and Archie at the start of their new life away from the monarchy.

The Duke of Cambridge has been made the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. It comes almost immediately after his brother, the Duke of Sussex, made the ten-hour journey to Vancouver on Monday

The Lord High Commissioner role was established in the 1707 Act of Union between England and Scotland.

The Queen pledged to continue it during the first Privy Council meeting of her reign in 1952.

Prince William will now make the opening and closing addresses to the Assembly as well as carrying out official visits across Scotland.

The Church of Scotland is a Presbyterian church and only recognises Jesus Christ as King and Head of the Church.

It means that the Queen is able to attend services as an ordinary member of the congregation.

The monarch appoints a new figure to the role every year and previous royal family members who have taken it on include the Princess Royal, the Duke of Rothesay, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex. 

The terms of Harry and Meghan’s departure were announced by Buckingham Palace last week. Pictured: William, Kate, Harry and Meghan altogether at Westminster Abbey in March last year

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan are adjusting to their new life in Canada where they will raise their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.

Prince Harry made an emotional speech last weekend at a private charity dinner in Chelsea, London, where he said that he had ‘no other option’ but to give up his role. 

But on Monday he undertook the ten-hour journey from London Heathrow to Vancouver International Airport on a Boeing 747.

The Duke of Sussex then boarded a WestJet plane to make the short journey onto Victoria Airport on Vancouver Island to join his wife and eight-month-old son. 

While he flew, he missed Prince William’s first solo reception at Buckingham Palace where he ushered in a new era for the royals – and even gave Harry a mention in his welcoming speech.

He said: ‘The African continent holds a very special place in my heart. It is the place my father took my brother and me shortly after our mother died.’

The terms of Harry and Meghan’s departure were announced by Buckingham Palace last week. 

The couple have agreed to drop their HRH styles as well as pay back the £2.4million of taxpayers money that was used to restore their Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage. 

The Queen and Prince Philip were seen today for the first time since Harry departed to Canada 

Her Majesty was forced to pull out of the annual Women’s Institute visit while she recovered from a cold 

The couple issued a legal warning two days later to the media after paparazzi shots of Meghan walking her dogs with baby Archie in Vancouver that were reportedly taken by photographers hiding in bushes. 

There has also been recent disruption over their attempt to trademark their Sussex Royal brand.  

The Queen and Prince Philip were seen today for the first time since Harry departed to Canada after Her Majesty was forced to pull out of the annual Women’s Institute visit while she recovered from a cold.  

Prince Andrew, 59, Prince Edward, 55, and Lady Louise, 16 were also all seen cantering through the Windsor Great Park today.

Prince Edward, 55, and Lady Louise, 16, were seen cantering through the Windsor Great Park on the crisp January morning

Prince Andrew was also pictured talking with a friend as he trotted through the park today as his brother and niece enjoyed Windsor Great Park