Meghan Markleis kicking off the year with a major to-do list.
The Duchess of Sussex, who is expecting her first child this spring, has officially chosen the causes she will champion in her royal life, her office at Kensington Palace announced on Thursday. As expected, they encapsulate some of her established interests in the arts, empowering young women, supporting girls’ education and animal welfare.
The Association of Commonwealth Universitieswas also named as one of her patronages, and it is an organization she visited last month — one of many that she made as she planned her royal work. Established in 1913, the Association of Commonwealth Universities is the world’s first international university network, and remains the only accredited organization representing higher education across the Commonwealth.
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The other two areSmart Works, which helps longterm unemployed and vulnerable women regain the skills, confidence and tools to succeed at job interviews, return to employment and transform their lives, and the animal welfare charityMayhew. It is a grassroots charity working to improve the lives of animals and people to better communities both in London and internationally.
Her office at Kensington Palace said in a statement, “The Duchess is delighted to become Patron of both national and grassroots organizations that are part of the fabric of the U.K., and is very much looking forward to working with them to bring wider public attention to their causes. Her Royal Highness feels she can use her position to focus attention on, and make a particular difference to these organizations and, more widely, the sectors they each represent.”
In December, Meghanspoke with a group of students and leaders at King’s College Londonas part of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) to discuss the importance and impact of higher education. She alsogot personal about her own college experienceduring a speech from her royal tour in Fiji back in October.
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Reacting to the news, Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre thanked the Queen for “long and unwavering support and service,” and added, “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.”
Dr. Joanna Newman, Chief Executive and Secretary General of the ACU, said Meghan “shares our passion for the transformational power of higher education, and Her Royal Highness’ support will help champion higher education as a force for good in the Commonwealth and beyond. We would like to thank Her Majesty The Queen for her support, and we look forward to working closely with The Duchess as our Patron.”
At Smart Works, Chair and Founder Juliet Hughes-Hallett, said, “An acknowledged champion of women and their rights worldwide, the Duchess will motivate ever more women to come to our centres and get the job that will transform their lives. The Duchess’s patronage will inspire the women we serve and help them reach for the stars.”
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Meghan’s move mirrors Kate Middleton‘s action of choosing an initial set of patronages in January 2012 – the first new year after she had wedPrince Williamin April 2011. At the time, Kate signaled many of the areas that would guide her current working life, including East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, Action on Addiction and the Art Room, both of which help vulnerable young people, and the National Portrait Gallery. She also became a supporter of the Scouts.
source: people.com
