PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle will lose a number of honours, titles and patronages after officially quitting the Royal Family.
Buckingham Palace today confirmed the pair would step down from a number of roles that came through their royal links – we take a look at which ones.
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They will still be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after being given the titles as a wedding gift at their 2018 nuptials at Windsor Castle.
What have they lost?
Prince Harry
Ex-soldier Harry, who served on the frontline in Afghanistan, has lost a number of honorary military positions.
The Duke is no longer the Captain General of the Royal Marines or Honorary Air Force Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base Honington.
And he has also given up his role as the Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Commands’ Small Ships and Diving.
He has also had to relinquish presidency of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, with the charity today thanking the pair for their “keen support and encouragement” in a statement.
The Duke, a keen rugby fan, will no longer be a patron of the Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football League – roles which he took over from the Queen.
He became the patron of England Rugby Union in 2016, and was often spotted supporting the team at Twickenham.
The Duke is also mates with ex skipper Dylan Hartley and James Haskell, who was a guest at his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018.
Harry is also no longer a patron of the London Marathon Charitable Trust after nine years in the role.
The Duke’s three-year term expired in January, and he chose not to renew it.
Meghan Markle
The Queen handed Meghan two royal patronages in 2019.
Meghan was made patron of the National Theatre and the Association of Commonwealth Universities – but these will both be relinquished following today’s news.
What have they retained?
Prince Harry
Prince Harry will retain a number of patronages and presidencies.
He remains President of African Parks, an NGO which helps advance wildlife conservation in Africa.
The Duke also retains his role as private patron at MapAction, the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, Dolen Cymru, Rhino Conservation Botswana and WellChild.
He will also stay on as private patron of Sentebale, an African children’s charity which he co-founded with Prince Seeiso in 2006.
Meghan Markle
Meghan will keep two private patronages.
She will stay on as private patron of Smart Works, with the firm today announcing it was “delighted” that the Duchess would continue in the role.
And she retains private patronage of animal charity Mayhew.
Following the news, a spokesperson for the couple today said that “service is universal”.
They added: “As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organisations they have represented regardless of official role.
“We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”
