Year since 'Megxit': UK royal family over-stretched and under-staffed without Meghan and Harry’s stardust

Charities have lost their figureheads while remaining royals have to pick up slack

One year ago this week, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex walked away from the UK's royal family.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, their absence has not yet been fully felt.

But as lockdown rules are eased, the "royal visits" in support of charities and institutions will resume.

Without Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the remaining royals will now feel the full impact of Megxit.

"The problem the royal family has is that without Meghan and Harry and without Prince Andrew, there's a lot of charity patronage that has gone and there are not a lot of royals left who can fill the roles," a former member of the royal household told The National.

“Until the next generation comes along when William’s children, George, Louis and Charlotte, come of age and the Earl of Wessex's [Prince Edward's] children as well, there will be a lot of vacancies to fill and they will be quite overstretched.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend The Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in March 2020. Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in March this year. Reuters

Prince Harry shows his support for the 2020 London Marathon from Los Angeles, in October 2020. Getty Images

Meghan Markle speaks on "Good Morning America" in April 2020.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are seen with Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge for the last time in March 2020. Since then the rest of the Royal family's appearances have also reduced due to Covid-19 pandemic. Getty Images

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visit the Covid-19 vaccination centre at Westminster Abbey in March 2021. Getty Images

Prince William speaks to a young pupil in the playground during a visit to School 21 in Stratford in March 2021. Getty Images

Prince Charles talks with Chief Pharmacist Inderjit Singh during a visit to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in February 2021. Getty Images

Prince Charles meets with Royal Mail employees on a visit to the Royal Mail's Delivery Office in Cirencester in December 2020. Getty Images

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge with their children, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, attend a special pantomime performance at London's Palladium Theatre in December 2020. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II speaks with Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, as they wait to thank local volunteers and key workers for the work they are doing in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle in December 2020. Getty Images

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Cleve Court Care Home in Bath in December 2020. Getty Images

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visit the Scottish Ambulance Service near Edinburgh in December 2020. Getty Images

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles listen to music as they visit at The 100 Club to celebrate London's night economy in December 2020. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth attends a National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Westminster, in November 2020. Getty Images

The Queen's Equerry, Lieutenant Colonel Nana Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah, places a bouquet of flowers at the grave of the Unknown Warrior on behalf of Queen Elizabeth during a ceremony in Westminster Abbey in November 2020. Getty Images

Camilla, Duchess Of Cornwall and Prince Charles visit the Headquarters of the Bank of England in October 2020. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth and Prince William arrive at the Energetics Analysis Centre as they visit the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory near Salisbury, in October 2020. Getty Images

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge pour a tray of dough into a container as they help make bagels during a visit to Beigel Bake Brick Lane Bakery in September 2020. Getty Images

Prince Charles looks over at the scene of the ScotRail train derailment near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, which cost the lives of three people people in August 2020. Getty Images

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge throw balls to knock down figures on an arcade game at Island Leisure Amusement Arcade, during their visit to Barry Island, South Wales, in August 2020. Getty Images

Prince Charles chats with care workers as he visits St Austell Healthcare to recognise and thank staff for their efforts during Covid-19 pandemic in July 2020. Getty Images

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall conduct a socially distanced TV interview after meeting front line key workers in Gloucester, in June 2020. Getty Images

Prince William meets paramedic staff in King's Lynn, in June 2020. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth attends a ceremony to mark her official birthday at Windsor Castle in June 2020. Getty Images

With the withdrawal of the couple from royal duties on March 31, 2020 came the loss of their high profiles as patrons of charities and institutions, which had enjoyed a significant boost.

Prince Harry and his brother brought an open and intelligent approach to mental health with their Heads Together, as did Harry for many military charities and conservation projects.

But his withdrawal to America means these groups have to find new figureheads within the short-staffed royal ranks.

This will become ever more noticeable after the pandemic, royal insiders say, with Prince Philip retired, Prince Andrew hidden from public life and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex departed, perhaps permanently after their bridge-burning Oprah Winfrey interview.

It will now be down to Buckingham Palace staff to divide the Sussexes' top patronages between the remaining royals with Princess Anne, who is now 70, likely to take up Harry’s post of Capt Gen of the Royal Marines and Meghan’s role as patron of the National Theatre.

“There is certainly going to be a cog missing because the Sussexes are no longer there,” a royal observer said.

“As things open up post-pandemic, the big events are not going to have the allure of Prince Harry and Meghan walking down the red carpet at a charity gala or theatrical opening.

"That’s when people will really notice their absence and the pulling power that they had for charities and British institutions.”

The charities left behind

With the withdrawal of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from royal duties came the loss of their high profile as patrons of charities and institutions. Here is a list of the charities they were previously linked to: Captain General, the Royal Marines - Prince Harry visits 42 Commando Royal Marines at their base in Bickleigh in 2019. Getty Images

President The Queen's Commonwealth Trust - Prince Harry attends a gala performance in support of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust in 2019. Getty Images

Patron of Rugby Football Union - Prince Harry meets pupils during his visit to The Rugby Football Union All Schools Programme in 2019. Getty Images

Patron of Rugby Football League - Prince Harry hosts the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draws in 2020. Getty Images

Patron of The London Marathon Charitable Trust - Prince Harry meets runners as he officially opens the Virgin Money London Marathon Expo in 2017. Getty Images

Help for Heroes - Prince Harry receives a Help for Heroes hooded top in 2013. Getty Images

Heads Together - Prince Harry poses for a photograph with runners representing the charity Heads Together in 2017. Getty Images

London Marathon - Prince Harry celebrates with London Marathon runners in 2019. Getty Images

Vice-President, The Queen's Commonwealth Trust - Meghan Markle attends a panel discussion convened by the Queen's Commonwealth Trust in 2019. Getty Images

Patron, the Royal National Theatre - Meghan Markle joins a workshop during a visit to The National Theatre in 2019. Getty Images

Patron, the Association of Commonwealth Universities - Meghan Markle during a visit to the Association of Commonwealth Universities in London in 2019. Getty Images

Prince William, in a speech to the Charity Commission in 2018, summed up the fact that charity work is the daily business for royals.

“We believe that, above anything else, charities nurture, repair, build and sustain our society, because without the work that charities do, society would be an empty shell,” he said.

On Queen Elizabeth's 90th birthday, a team of professional accountants tried to gauge her contribution in financial terms and decided it was immeasurable.

It is also difficult to account for how much their profile brings to the charity or issue it promotes, but it is undoubtedly considerable.

There are still some charities lucky enough to retain the couple as patrons, albeit from across the Atlantic.

Last year, Meghan allowed photographs of herself visiting the Mayhew Animal Home to be published and has retained her loyalty to the charity, which looks after the welfare of cats and dogs in London.

There is certainly going to be a cog missing because the Sussexes are no longer there

“We are, of course, thrilled that Meghan Markle is remaining a patron of Mayhew,” said Sarah Hastelow, its spokeswoman.

“We're incredibly grateful to Meghan for her time and generosity over the past few years.

"Her visits to our home have been fantastic opportunities for her to meet our staff and service users, and find out exactly how we make a difference.

"We cannot thank her enough for the raised awareness and support that Mayhew has seen since she joined us in 2019.”

But their absence could prove difficult for some of the smaller charities.

“Just having the royal name on the letterhead brings enormous value,” the former Buckingham Palace employee said.

“It’s in effect a kitemark, helping the organisation in terms of who they can ask, how they write to people and how they fund-raise.”

Charity is the royals' bread and butter

The charity work, some of it mundane to royals, is of such importance that it has become the raison d'etre  of the British monarchy, allowing its members to carry out serious work that gives it meaning and purpose.

The pulling power of royalty, particular senior members such as Prince Charles, can have a significant and lasting effect.

His contribution to youth development through the Prince’s Trust is considered to be immeasurable, as is his unwavering commitment to the environment and conservation.

Royal observers believe senior family members have an ability to “convene”, bringing together important and influential people to discuss and resolve issues.

“That is one of the great powers that royalty has, putting influential people together, saying, ‘Here’s an issue, let’s work together on it',” one said.

While Prince William and his wife Kate will shoulder more of the charity burden with Harry and Meghan gone, those charities left behind by the Sussexes remain dignified at the loss of patronage.

"The Duke of Sussex has been a wonderful patron of the London Marathon Charitable Trust and we are immensely grateful for his unstinting support and interest in our work over the past nine years," Sir Rodney Walker, the charity's chairman, told The National.

“Everyone at the trust and the wider London Marathon family sends our best wishes and thanks to the duke for all that he has done.”

MapAction, a charity that specialises in providing maps for humanitarian emergencies, said it had an amicable parting with the prince and there was “no urgency on either side to review the relationship”.

“MapAction is extremely grateful to have had him as our royal patron for what were our vital formative years as an organisation,” it said.

“Harry and his team have always been extremely helpful and accommodating, and we remain on excellent terms.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during an interview with Oprah Winfrey on CBS. Reuters

As their marriage matured, it was hoped that Prince Harry and Meghan would provide a powerful force for whatever cause they considered worth championing.

That was cut off a year ago when their swift exit from royal life became a formality as they ceased undertaking royal duties on behalf of the queen.

Some in royal circles underplay the loss of Meghan as insignificant as she had “only been a working royal for 18 months”.

Others regard the Sussexes' departure as a lost opportunity.

“Just think of the great potential they had to do some good things if they’d stayed,” one observer said.

That potential looks to be irrevocably revoked after the Winfrey interview.