Meghan Markle, wife of Britain's Prince Harry, has announced today, Thursday, January 10, that she would become patron of four organisations to champion causes close to her heart, including the National Theatre and charities supporting women and animal welfare.
Queen Elizabeth, 92, has passed on her patronages of the National Theatre and the Association of Commonwealth Universities, which she has held for decades, to Meghan, who married the queen's grandson last year.
Known as the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan will also become the patron of Smart Works, a charity helping long-term unemployed women, and animal welfare charity Mayhew.
"The Duchess is delighted to become Patron of both national and grassroots organisations that are part of the fabric of the UK, and is very much looking forward to working with them to bring wider public attention to their causes," Kensington Palace said in a statement.
The Duchess of Sussex will become Patron of four organisations that reflect the causes and issues with which she has long been associated including the arts, access to education, support for women and animal welfare. pic.twitter.com/tU9QWDlPyH
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) January 10, 2019
The National Theatre said it was a privilege to welcome Meghan, an American former actress who starred in television drama Suits before she married Harry in May 2018.
"The Duchess shares our deeply-held conviction that theatre has the power to bring together people from all communities and walks of life. I very much look forward to working closely with Her Royal Highness in the years to come," Rufus Norris, the director of the National Theatre, said.
Working closely with women and animals
The mother-to-be visited the Smart Works charity career centre in West London today.
According to Kensington Palace, the foundation "helps long term unemployed and vulnerable women regain the skills, confidence and tools to succeed at job interviews, return to employment and transform their lives."
The royal will now also serve as patron on Mayhew. Of which Kensington Palace announced, "The Duchess has long understood the connection between animals and community welfare. [Mayhew] uses innovative ways to reduce the number of animals in need through proactive community, and educational initiatives and preventative veterinary care."
The final organisation she is now patron of is Association of Commonwealth Universities, which is "the world's first and oldest international university network, and the only org representing higher education across all 53 Commonwealth countries."
Having visited Smart Works on January 10, Markle will conduct private visits to the other three organisations in the coming weeks, according to Kensington Palace.
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