Duchess Camilla ‘all the more delighted’ to replace Meghan Markle in royal role after initial snub

Duchess Camilla is 'all the more delighted' to replace Meghan Markle as patron of the National Theatre, after initially being snubbed for the role in 2019. 

• The Duchess of Cornwall is 'delighted' to take on Meghan Markle's patronage of the National Theatre, having initially lost out on the role in 2019. 
• The Queen stripped Meghan Markle and Prince Harry of their royal patronages in February 2021, after confirming that they would not be returning to the UK to serve the Crown.  
• In other royal news, Meghan Markle’s podcast finally in the works as 2022 launch announced months after signing major Spotify deal.
  

The Duchess of Cornwall is more than happy to take on Meghan Markle's former role as patron of the National Theatre, a royal insider has claimed. 

The Queen had originally appointed the job to the Duchess of Sussex but was forced to remove it in February 2021 when it became clear that she and Prince Harry would be staying in the US permanently.  

On Friday, 18 March, it was confirmed that the patronage would now be filled by Camilla—who, apparently, had always yearned for the artsy gig. The news comes shortly after it was revealed that Meghan Markle's podcast on Spotify will finally launch in summer 2022. 

According to an inside source, the future Queen Consort wasn't too impressed to learn that the retired actress had landed the position of a patron to the National Theatre over her. 

"She really wanted it. She was pretty miffed when it went to Meghan," they told the Times. 

Her Majesty made the Duchess of Sussex patronage to the National Theatre, along with three other organizations, in January 2019—seven months after she married Prince Harry. While the decision behind the appointment was never explained, it was likely made in light of Meghan's extensive drama background. 

The 40-year-old boasts an impressive resumée of TV and film appearances, having grown up near Hollywood and studied theatre at Northwestern University. She was perhaps most known for playing Rachel Zane in the legal drama, Suits, before quitting acting in 2018 to become a full-time senior royal. 

Meghan reportedly had a strong relationship with the National Theatre during her short tenure, with artistic director, Rufus Norris, praising her as "very engaged" in an interview with the Telegraph in 2020. She wasn't exactly actively involved on the ground, however, paying just one official visit to the London venue in January 2019 before emigrating to the US with Prince Harry. 

Camilla is now "all the more delighted to take it on now, after being disappointed not to get it first time round". Her new venture has also been warmly received by the National Theatre, who fully approve of Meghan's replacement. 

"It is a privilege to welcome the Duchess of Cornwall as the National Theatre's Royal Patron," Norris said on Thursday. "The duchess shares our belief that theatre enriches our lives in so many ways and that everyone should have access to the arts and creativity no matter where they are in the world."