Duchess of Sussex doing secret charity work
IT’S been exactly two weeks since royal correspondent Richard Palmer implored the Duchess of Sussex to “step it up” and do more charity work.
“What I’d like to see is her taking up the cudgels now on behalf of some charities, some big issues. She has the power to make a real difference in the world,” Palmer told Yahoo’s The Royal Box program.
“That’s the way to change the conversation [away from father Thomas Markle and half-sister Samantha], to move it on.”
But royal historian and expert Marlene Koenig said Meghan Markle is actually already doing charitable work in her new role. She’s simply doing it in secret.
“From what I understand, she’s been working privately with [The Royal Foundation],” Koenig said, pointing to the main charity the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, work with.
Koenig explained the extent of Meghan’s welfare work is being kept under wraps until she has completed her “princess classes”, and is completely at ease with the cultural and etiquette standards that now govern her life as a working royal.
“They’re going to take their time in announcing her first patronage, that’s pretty standard,” Koenig said.
“Before you throw her into taking on different charities and beginning work in them, she still needs to learn the very different ways of the monarchy.”
Given Meghan’s history working with World Vision, One Young World and UN Women before she met her now-husband, experts predict her chosen charities will target poverty, youth issues and gender equality.
While she meets with groups behind closed doors, it’s hardly surprising we haven’t seen Meghan publicly align herself with a cause yet. After all, some nine months passed before Kate Middleton announced her allegiance to the likes of Action On Addiction, East Anglia Children Hospitals and the National Portrait Gallery.
Until we find out where her philanthropic interests lie, the author of Queen Victoria’s Descendants said Meghan will be busy preparing for her “biggest challenge yet” — her trip to Australia in mid-October for the Invictus Games.
“This is going to be her baptism by fire,” Koenig said.
“It’s one thing to do several hours visiting Nottingham or going with the Queen to Chester. This is going to be a massive tour through Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji, and of course the Invictus Games.”
In fact, Koenig believes all of Meghan’s lessons in etiquette, culture and the monarchy have been “gearing up for this tour”.
“She’ll be changing outfits several times a day, meeting all kinds of people and learning all the things that come with this,” Koenig said.
“She’s a quick learner and she has good advisers, but every day it’s going to be something different. It will also be a way to learn what her husband’s family means in these countries. People think ‘Queen Elizabeth is just the Queen of England’, but no, she’s the Queen of Canada, Australia, New Zealand. She’s the Queen of 16 countries.”
Just as Princess Diana’s first trip to Australia with her then-husband Prince Charles was seminal in cementing her as our favourite royal — images of thousands of fans greeting her on the steps of the Sydney Opera House is iconic — 25 years later it will be Meghan who has the eyes of the world on her.
While the dates for the couple’s visit have not yet been released, royalists can be confident Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be in Sydney between October 20 and 28, while the Prince’s sporting event, the Invictus, is taking place.
After her royal duties are done, Koenig said Meghan is planning to pay her mother Doria Ragland a quick visit at her home in Los Angeles.
“We need to understand it’s going to be a major trip for Meghan,” Koenig said.
“But she’s going to ace it. She’s got the personality, the brains, the confidence. She’s doing wonderfully.”
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