The Duchess of Cornwall has been made royal patron of the National Theatre by the Queen, taking over from Meghan who was withdrawn from the role when she and Prince Harry stepped down as senior royals.

The new role for Camilla marks another sign of the Queen’s faith in the Duchess of Cornwall, after she revealed her wish to endorse her as the future Queen Consort in her Platinum Jubilee message last month.

The National Theatre patronage was one of two royal patronages the Queen handed to Meghan in 2019.

In 2021, following a review the year after the Sussexes stepped down as senior working royals, Meghan’s National Theatre patronage was taken away.

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A ‘privilege’ for the theatre

The National Theatre said it was delighted Camilla, who is a long-standing supporter of the arts, was taking on the role and described her as a devoted fan of theatre.

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Director and joint chief executive of the National Theatre, Rufus Norris, said: “It is a privilege to welcome the Duchess of Cornwall as the National Theatre’s Royal Patron.

“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.”

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Camilla’s existing patronages include: The Royal Academy of Dance, Royal Society of Literature, Friends of The Royal Academy, London Chamber Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra, Theatre Royal Bath, Unicorn Theatre for Children and Georgian Theatre Royal.

The Queen has been associated with the National Theatre since its earliest days at the Old Vic in the 1960s and last visited with the Duke of Edinburgh in 2013 as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.

Review of the Sussexes

Prince Harry and Meghan, who relocated to the US after announcing they were stepping back as senior royals, now live in California.

During the review of the Sussexes, Meghan also had to give up her role as vice-president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, but kept her two private patronages: Smart Works and animal charity Mayhew.

Prince Harry lost his royal patronages and his honorary military roles, with the Duchess of Cambridge later taking over as patron of the Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football League.

The Sussexes had wanted to keep the positions, with a spokesperson for the couple saying in a statement at the time: “We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”

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