The Queen’s likely candidates for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal patronages have been revealed

The Queen may have already decided who will take over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal patronages, according to inside sources.

• The Queen reportedly began planning on the transfer of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal patronages the moment she realized their departure would be permanent. 
• Royal experts have weighed in on the Queen's likely choices to take over the couple's royal patronages. 
• In other royal news, the Queen’s TV special is set to air the same day as Harry and Meghan’s ‘tell-all’ interview.
  

Her Majesty had reportedly begun to prepare the transfer of the couple’s patronages following her realization that their withdrawal as working royals was permanent. 

“When the writing was on the wall and it was clear the Duke and Duchess had no intention of coming back into the fold and being part of the team, the Queen made her mind up long ago over her preferred candidates for the roles they vacated,” a source close to Buckingham Palace revealed. 

Who will take over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal patronages?

While the Queen’s final decisions have not yet been confirmed, royal experts have already given their predictions on the couple’s most likely successors. 

The most known title up-for-grabs is Harry’s position as Captain-General of the Royal Marines, which he assumed in 2017. While his older brother Prince William could take on the responsibility, it is now expected that Princess Anne will be appointed to the role. As Chief Commandant for Women in the Royal Navy, the Queen’s only daughter is no stranger to military affairs. 

Now 70, she is currently associated with a whopping 65 military organizations and is known to attend hundreds of royal engagements each year. If she were to be appointed as Captain-General of the Royal Marines, she would be the first woman to fill the role. 

The Queen has reportedly also found a replacement for Meghan’s patronage. The Duchess of Sussex was appointed as the National Theatre patron in January 2019, a role which had previously been held by Her Majesty for 45 years. The position is likely to be handed to Prince Edward, the Queen’s youngest son. 

Royal experts believe that the Earl of Wessex, who is also a patron of the National Youth Theatre, has the perfect resumé to fulfill the job’s duties. Having worked in television and theatre for years, the keen arts enthusiast could bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the important role.