5 Royal Roles Queen Elizabeth Had Handed to Meghan Markle but Not Princess Kate

There were several moments during Queen Elizabeth’s reign when Meghan Markle was given royal responsibilities that Princess Kate did not hold. Some were patronages that came directly from the Queen, while others were important appointments. From the arts and education to women’s empowerment and the Commonwealth, Markle’s royal portfolio was quite distinctive until she stepped down from it all in 2020 and moved to the US.

One of the biggest patronages that the Queen handed to Markle was the National Theatre. The late monarch had been its patron for 45 years before passing the role to the Duchess of Sussex in 2019. It was a significant responsibility for Markle, especially because the National Theatre is one of Britain’s most respected cultural institutions, and given her career in acting, the role seemed fitting. Markle even visited the theatre and took part in discussions about its work. After Prince Harry and Markle stepped back as working royals, the patronage eventually went to Queen Camilla.

Among her other responsibilities, Markle was also given the patronage of the Association of Commonwealth Universities by the Queen. The Queen had held the position for 33 years before passing the patronage to Markle in 2019. As head of the Commonwealth, the Queen held the organization and its work particularly close to her heart. By entrusting Markle with such a role, she gave the Duchess an important platform to support higher education and strengthen her work across the Commonwealth. On the other hand, Kate, despite having her own extensive royal portfolio, has never held roles relating to the Commonwealth.

Another major role that connected the Suits alum to Elizabeth’s Commonwealth work was her position as Vice-President of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust. Markle was appointed to the role alongside her husband, Harry, who became the organization’s President. Markle was also appointed as a Queen’s Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, giving her a role focused on young people across the Commonwealth. These positions allowed Markle to work on issues involving young people across the Commonwealth and supported the couple’s wider focus on the next generation.

Markle's royal portfolio also included Mayhew, an animal-welfare charity that works to improve the lives of pets and people. She became the organization’s patron in 2019, with the role allowing her to support animal welfare while also highlighting the charity’s wider community work. It was also one of the patronages personally associated with Markle during her time as a working royal. It is important to note here that the late Queen was an ardent animal lover herself and entrusted Markle with the special honor.

Smart Works was another important patronage that became part of Markle's royal work in 2019. It was an official patronage given to her during the Queen's reign while she was a working member of the Royal Family. The charity supports unemployed women by providing interview clothing, coaching, and practical help as they return to the workforce. Markle became particularly involved with its work and used the patronage to highlight women’s confidence and economic independence.