KATE Middleton is set to replace Prince Harry as the patron of English Rugby – putting her head to head with husband Prince William.
The Duchess of Cambridge will reportedly be the first royal to take over one of Harry’s patronages when she is handed the title very soon.
An announcement confirming the duchess’ new role is expected “imminently”, a source told the Daily Mail.
And it will put her in direct competition with husband Wills, who is patron of Welsh Rugby Union, during this year’s Six Nations champs.
Harry was forced to step down from his job as patron of the RFU last year after he and Meghan Markle quit royal life and moved to California.
The rugby-mad royal, who famously celebrated England’s 2003 World Cup win with the squad in Australia, had been patron at Twickenham since 2016.
He had taken over the role from the Queen, 95, having been her vice president since 2010.
But in February last year, Buckingham Palace released a statement confirming Her Majesty’s decision to relinquish Harry and Meghan of their honorary patronages – including Harry’s links to British sport.
The Palace confirmed the “honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by the duke and duchess” would be “returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family”.
Until now, no member of the Royal Family has been handed one of the Sussexes’ patronages.
But with the Six Nations Championship coming up next week, the need for a figurehead is pressing.
And according the the Mail’s source, Kate is about to become “front and centre” at the upcoming games.
It is not yet clear whether she will also take on Harry’s old role as patron of the Rugby Football League, but the Queen may now start to redistribute more of Meghan and Harry’s dormant roles.
For Harry, these include his ex-military affiliations as well as the presidency of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and the London Marathon Charitable Trust.
Meghan also had to hand back patronages with the Royal National Theatre and the Association of Commonwealth Universities, as well as her vice presidency of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.
Sporty Kate is already royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and has previously cheered on England’s stars at Twickenham.
The team is due to play Wales at Twickenham on February 26, with both William and Kate supporting their respective sides.
A source added: “They are famously competitive with each other and this will be no different – probably even more so now that they have an invested interest in the outcome of the game.”
