Which patronages are Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry returning and which will they retain? A look at their past and current work

February 19, 2021

<h2>Mayhew</h2>
<p>The Duchess of Sussex took on this privately-held patronage after receiving two royal patronages from Her Majesty (The National Theatre and The Association of Commonwealth Universities) in January 2019.
<p><a href="https://themayhew.org/" target="_blank">Mayhew</a> is an animal welfare charity for cats, dogs and communities. It aims to improve the lives of all those in London and internationally.
<p>Meghan has long supported animal rescue charities in Los Angeles, where she grew up, and had adopted rescue dogs.
<p>The charity was chosen to share the Sussexes' <a href=/tags/0/christmas><strong>Christmas</strong></a> card in December 2020 on their social media channels.
<p><strong>Meghan will retain this patronage, as it is privately held.</strong>
<p>Photo: © Eddie Mulholland - WPA Pool/Getty Images

<h2>Sentebale</h2>
<p>Back in 2006, Harry jointly founded <a href="https://sentebale.org/" target="_blank">Sentebale</a> with <strong>Prince Seeiso</strong> of Lesotho to help orphans in that country. The name of the organization comes from a saying in the Sesotho language used to say goodbye, and means "forget me not."
<p>The charity's goal is to provide long-term support to orphans in Lesotho and Botswana who have been affected by AIDS.
<p>The duke was inspired to start the organization after visiting southern Africa and he has continued to do so over the years.
<p>Harry is pictured here learning sign language on a trip to Lesotho with Sentebale in 2013.
<p><strong>Prince Harry will keep this patronage because it is privately held.</strong>
<p>Photo: © Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Invictus Games Foundation

Harry is patron of the Invictus Games Foundation and the Invictus Games is one of his most recognized endeavours.

The Invictus Games is an international adaptive sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicepersons, including those who are currently serving and veterans. It seeks to use sport in the journey of recovery while also helping to raise awareness and a greater understanding.

The first games took place in 2014 in London, followed by Orlando in 2016, Toronto in 2017, and Australia in 2018.

COVID-19 has affected the games, causing them to postpone events, but Harry has launched a podcast in 2021 through his patronage that connects U.K. healthcare workers with veterans. It will see them discussing the coronavirus and mental health.

The duke will retain this privately held patronage.

Photo: © GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images

<h2>WellChild</h2>
<p><a href=/tags/0/wellchild><strong>WellChild</strong></a> provides support to chronically sick children and their families, and strives to make improvements to their mental health.
<p>The Duke of Sussex has been a patron of WellChild for over 10 years and has participated in the WellChild Awards, which celebrate the inspirational qualities of seriously ill children and young people. (He and Duchess Meghan are pictured at the WellChild Awards in September 2018.)
<p>Over the years, the Duke of Sussex has met with many of the youth, nurses, researchers and volunteers involved in WellChild and publicly lent his support.
<p><Strong>Harry will get to keep this patronage because it's privately held.</strong>
<p>Photo: © Victoria Jones - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Henry Van Straubenzee Memorial Fund

Harry is a joint patron of this memorial fund, along with Prince William. They have been patrons since January 2009.

The brothers are seen with Claire Van Strawbenzee at a reception for the formal launch of the Henry Van Straubenzee Memorial Fund on Jan. 8, 2008 in London.

The organization was set up in honour of the memory of princes' friend, Henry Van Straubenzee, who died at age 18 in a car crash.

The fund aims to support schools in Uganda, where Henry planned to work during his Gap Year.

"Henry was one of my greatest friends and his death was truly shocking to many people," Harry said at the launch. "Henry would be so proud of his family and what they are doing in Uganda in his name. The way they are carrying on his memory is remarkable.”

Prince Harry will keep this patronage because it's privately held.

Photo: © Toby Melville/WPA Pool/Getty Images

<h2>The National Theatre</h2>
<p>Duchess Meghan received this royal patronage after the Queen gave it to her in January 2019.
<p>The monarch had been patron of <a href="https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/" target="_blank">The National Theatre</a> for 45 years up until that point.
<p>The National Theatre, which is sometimes referred to as The Royal National Theatre, is focused on producing theatre that is inspiring, inclusive, entertaining and diverse.
<p>The Duchess of Sussex made a few trips to The National Theatre in London when she was expecting son <a href=/tags/0/archie-harrison><strong>Archie</strong></a>. She's pictured during an engagement on Jan. 30, 2019.
<p><strong>This patronage will be returned to the Royal Family.</strong>
<p>Photo: © Chris Jackson/Getty Images

<h2>London Marathon Charitable Trust</h2>
<p>The annual surplus of the Virgin Money London Marathon is gifted to The London Marathon Charitable Trust, of which Prince Harry served as patron since 2011.
<p>The Trust is focused on improving health and well-being and they've donated to 1,400 recreational projects that inspire activity.
<p>Since he became patron of the <a href="https://www.lmct.org.uk/" target="_blank">London Marathon Charitable Trust</a>, Harry has participated in race-related events and activities.
<p>The prince is seen helping a young girl officially open the Virgin Money London Marathon Expo on April 19, 2017.
<p><strong>This patronage is being returned to the Royal Family.</strong>
<p>Photo: © Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Queen's Commonwealth Trust

Prince Harry was president of The Queen's Commonwealth Trust, while Duchess Meghan was vice-president of the organization. The Queen serves as patron.

It is a charity that was founded in 2018 and it aims to assist with projects from youth advocates across all of the Commonwealth.

As part of their roles, the duke and duchess attended a performance of The Wider Earth in February 2019 (pictured), which supported The Trust.

In March 2019, Meghan participated in an International Women's Day event for the organization and her role of vice-president was announced at the same time.

In 2020, the Sussexes made video calls in support of The Queen's Commonwealth Trust.

This patronage will be returned to the Royal Family and redistributed.

Photo: © Heathcliff O'Malley - WPA Pool/Getty Images

<h2>The Rugby Football League</h2>
<p>Harry became the patron of The Rugby Football League after taking over the role from his grandmother, the Queen.
<p>Harry has long been passionate about sport, including rugby in particular, and has supported players of all ages and levels.
<p>In January 2020, after announcing he and Meghan were stepping down from their senior royal roles, Harry participated in the draw for <strong><a href="https://ca.hellomagazine.com/royalty/02020011654579/prince-harry-2021-rugby-world-cup-draw-buckingham-palace">The Rugby World Cup</a></strong> (pictured). He had previously talked about returning to the U.K. for the RLWC2021, which has been affected by COVID-19.
<p><Strong>This is one of Harry's patronages that will be returned to the Royal Family.</strong>
<p>Photo: © Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)

The Association of Commonwealth Universities was another patronage the Queen bestowed to the duchess in January 2019. Her Majesty had been patron of the ACU for 33 years until the transfer.

The former actress took on a total of four patronages at the time.

The Association of Commonwealth Universities was established in 1913 and it has over 500 member institutions spanning all 53 Commonwealth countries. It's the world's first and oldest international university network.

The Duchess of Sussex is a university graduate and has a passion about education for all.

She's seen at an engagement in January 2019 where she met students from the Commonwealth who were studying in the U.K.

This is one of the duchess's patronages that will be given back to the Royal Family.

Photo: © Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images

<h2>Rugby Football Union (RFU)</h2>
<p>This is another rugby-related patronage that Harry took over from Her Majesty. He served as Vice-Patron of the Rugby Football Union.
<p>The prince spent his 2004 Gap Year training as an Assistant Development Officer with the Rugby Football Union and became patron of the Rugby Football Union All Schools Programme in 2013.
<p>Prince Harry served as Honorary President of England 2015 and played an active role in supporting the Rugby World Cup that year.
<p>Harry is captured visiting Japan to attend the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final between England and South Africa.
<p><strong>This is one of the patronages that will be returned to the Royal Family.</strong>
<p>Photo: © Tomohiro Ohsumi - Pool/Getty Images

Rhino Conservation Botswana (RCB)

Animal and environmental conservation and Africa are causes close to Harry's heart.

Like other members of the Royal Family, the prince has been focused on protecting rhinos and he holds the patronage of Rhino Conservation Botswana.

The international charity monitors and strives to protect black and white rhinos from poaching in southern Africa by moving the animals to the safety of Botswana, where there are strict anti-poaching laws and greater support.

Prince Harry has visited the African continent for the cause throughout the years, including in December 2015 (photographed here).

That same year, he released personal photographs and videos that were taken during his summer visit to southern Africa, where he worked on front-line conservation projects.

He will retain the patronage because it is privately held.

Photo: © Paul Edwards - Pool/Getty Images

Smart Works

Meghan took on Smart Works as an additional patronage, along with Mayhew, in January 2019. The Queen also gave her The National Theatre and The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) at the time.

Smart Works is a non-profit organization that provides job training and free clothing to women so they can get back or enter the world of work.

The duchess had made several private visits to the Smart Works centres as well as public ones, including here in January 2019.

In September 2019, she helped launch the Smart Set capsule collection to prepare unemployed women for job success.

The mom of one supported the charity during the coronavirus pandemic, including helping one client prepare for a job interview.

Her patronage will be retained because it is privately held.

Dolen Cymru

Dolen Cymru is a Cardiff-based charity and it has connections to one of Harry's other patronages, Sentebale.

Wales and Lesotho have links that date back to 1985 which focus on young people, education and more.

Harry spent time in his 2004 Gap Year in Lesotho and was appointed patron of Dolen Cymru in March 2007.

The prince said of the patronage, "I am so very proud to be associated with Dolen Cymru. The work that it does in assisting and encouraging organisations and individuals in Wales to establish contact and foster friendships with their counterparts in Lesotho is quite invaluable."

He is captured speaking during the 3rd International Conference for organizations supporting development and change in Lesotho on June 5, 2008.

Harry will get to keep this patronage as it is privately held.

<h2>MapAction</h2>
<p>This non-governmental organization provides mapping for humanitarian emergencies, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and cyclones. This helps to save lives.
<p>"MapAction brings order to chaos," Prince Harry has said of the patronage. "Its unique mapping skills help all the other aid workers in a disaster or emergency."
<p>Harry is photographed with MapAction volunteers during a briefing about Nepal earthquakes on March 16, 2016.
<p>In 2015, the duke visited a volunteer humanitarian mapping team for a major disaster simulation exercise in Norway. He first became patron of MapAction back in April 2007.
<p><strong>Harry will keep this patronage since it's privately held.</strong>
<p>Photo: © Anthony Harvey/Getty Images

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By Heather Cichowski

On Feb. 19, Buckingham Palace announced Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan confirmed to the Queen they will not return as working members of the Royal Family. As a result of this decision, they will return their honourary military appointments and royal patronages. The couple will still be able to retain some patronages that are privately held.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been active with many different patronages over the years. These roles highlighted their passions and commitments to various causes, including the welfare of animals, education, gender equality and women's rights, environmental conservation and more.

Since Harry and Meghan will continue their work with their privately-held patronages, they will be able to further advance causes such as veterans' physical and mental health, animal welfare, women's issues, HIV/AIDS, the environment and more. We look forward to the important work they will continue to do in many of these fields in the future.

Scroll through the gallery (or click through, if you're on desktop) to get a clearer idea of what Harry and Meghan will do with patronages in the future – and look back at the important work they did with royal patronages they will return.