Is Kate Middleton filling Prince Harry’s shoes? A year after Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal exit, the Duchess of Cambridge just took over two of Harry’s rugby royal patronages …
- Middleton recently announced on Instagram that she’s ‘thrilled to become patron of the Rugby Football League and Rugby Football Union’
- Harry and Meghan returned their patronages to Queen Elizabeth after stepping down, but a few charities kept the couple on by removing ‘royal’ from their titles
The Duchess of Cambridge announced that she has taken over two of Prince Harry’s royal patronages after months of speculation.
“I am so thrilled to become patron of the Rugby Football League and Rugby Football Union – two fantastic organisations who are committed to harnessing the power that sport can have in bringing communities together and helping individuals flourish,” Middleton wrote in the post.
“I look forward to working with them across all levels of the games, and to cheering England on in what promises to be an exciting year for both sports!” she added, before signing the post “C” for Catherine.
The Sunday Times reported in August that Middleton would take over the patronages. However, Kensington Palace declined to comment at that time. The Rugby Food Union also declined to confirm the report, saying “any announcement on a royal patronage would come from the royal household”.
Harry was patron of both organisations for five years before announcing in February 2021 that both himself and Meghan Markle would not return to royal duties after their one-year review period. Their royal patronages were therefore returned to Queen Elizabeth.