HARRY and Meghan are walking away from royal patronages they once said they were “honoured and proud” to represent.

Sources said the Sussexes had – “absolutely, no question” – wanted to retain the positions but ultimately chose to give them up for life in California.

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Former Army officer Harry must have been particularly devastated to lose his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines. Just a few years ago Harry, who was born into a life of public service, said he and wife Meghan intended to give the royal job “all we’ve got”.

He added: “All we want to do is carry out the right engagements and try and encourage others to see the world in the correct sense, rather than perhaps having a ­distorted view.

“I know Meghan will be unbelievably good at the job part of it.

“We’re a fantastic team and we hope to have as much impact on the things we care about as ­possible.” At their engagement announcement in November 2017, Meghan gushed: “As I transition out of my career into the role (of a working royal), I can focus even more energy on the causes that have been very important to me.

“Once you have a voice that people are willing to listen to, with that comes a lot of responsibility, which I take seriously.

“With boots on the ground in the UK, I’m excited to get to know more about the different communities here. We’re working on the same causes I’ve always been ­passionate about. Being able to go around the Commonwealth is just the beginning. I’m very excited.”

But yesterday, the Sussexes were stripped of patronages as they confirmed Megxit was permanent.

HARRY LOSES

HARRY will lose several honorary roles, including his title of Captain General of the Royal Marines.

HARRY will lose several honorary roles, including his title of Captain General of the Royal Marines.

The position made him ceremonial head of the squadron and gave him the right to wear the famous green beret of elite Royal Marines Commandos.

Although the job does not involve any actual military service, the Captain General is seen as a motivational figurehead for the Marines.

Harry also loses two other honorary military roles — Air Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base Honington and Commodore-In-Chief of the Royal Naval Commands’ Small Ships and Diving.

He has made morale-boosting visits to RAF Honington, Suffolk, and given speeches to Navy seamen preparing for service. Again, he will no longer be able to wear the uniforms associated with those roles.

In the world of sport, Harry loses his Patronages of the Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football League.

And he will be stripped of his role as ­President of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust, a charity that assists youth projects throughout the Commonwealth.

MEGHAN LOSES

Meghan has been dumped as Vice-President of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.

In that role she made speeches encouraging young people to confront racism, even if it means “pushing through discomfort”.

She also loses her prestigious job as Patron of the Royal National Theatre — held by Her Majesty for the previous 45 years.

The position involves championing the performing arts as a means for social and cultural enrichment.

Finally, Meghan has been stripped of her role as Patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities — a position she once said was “very important” to her. Meghan said she wanted to use the role to champion scholarships which would enable poor people to seek a better life.

Just last year Harry told of his “exceptional pride” at being Captain General of the Royal Marines.

He later told the unit’s head, Major General Matthew Holmes: “I am so proud to have served as captain and devastated that I have to step down. I feel I’m letting people down, but I had no choice.”

He also loses his roles as Honorary Air Force Commandant at RAF Honington in Suffolk, and as the Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Commands’ Small Ships and Diving. Members of that unit were part of the guard at the couple’s wedding.

Yesterday, the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League thanked fan Harry for his “valued contributions and support” as they sought new patrons.

He has also had to relinquish presidency of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust — and Meghan her vice-presidency. The charity thanked the pair for their “keen support and encouragement”.

Meghan loses her patronage of the Royal National Theatre. It said it was “very grateful” for her help championing its work with communities and young people.

HARRY KEEPS

Harry remains Patron of the ­Invictus Games, a sporting event for wounded ex-soldiers he founded.

He is also staying as President of wildlife charities African Parks and Rhino Conservation Botswana, and of charities Sentebale, Dolen Cymru and the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, which help people in Africa.

He also remains as Patron of charities MapAction and WellChild.

He may keep his patronages of the RFU All Schools Programme and the RFU Injured Players Foundation.

MEGHAN KEEPS

Meghan will remain as Patron of two UK charities.

One is Smart Works, which aims to supply smart clothing and interview training to homeless women. It said: “We are delighted to confirm that the Duchess of Sussex will remain a patron.

“We are thankful for everything she has done in support of our clients and look forward to working together in the future.”

The other is London-based cats and dogs rescue centre Mayhew.

It added: “As Buckingham Palace have stated, the process of appointing a new patron is ongoing and will be announced in due course.”

Meghan also exits as patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. In 2019, she hailed its work as “truly and deeply important to me”.

The ACU thanked Meghan for promoting access and inclusion.

It is understood the couple will carry on working with charities with they established a relationship with outside their royal role.

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The Invictus Games Foundation confirmed its founder Harry would remain patron.

Meghan continues with Smart Works — a charity helping women get work by offering them smart clothes and interview coaching.

And London animal welfare charity Mayhew said: “We want to thank the duchess for her support, and look forward to continuing our work with her helping dogs, cats and communities in need.”

SACK PR FOR JIBE AT UNSELFISH MONARCH

THE pompous little statement from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Hollywood PR department says it all.

THE pompous little statement from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Hollywood PR department says it all.

They “remain committed to their duty and service to the UK,” it read, “as evidenced by their work over the past year.”

To us, it looks as if their work over the past year has been securing lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify.

That is indeed duty and service but it looks like it is mainly duty and service to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

If you do good works — which they do — they will always be overshadowed by the money-making deals that race smartly alongside them.

No one cares about the unseen, unglamorous works they undertake when they live such a high-profile lifestyle.

Harry and Meghan moved from a huge mansion in Vancouver Island to a house in the Hollywood Hills and then to a multimillion-dollar mansion in Mendocino County — all in the space of a year.

Their PRs should be sacked for putting out such a statement which looked like a jibe at the Queen’s life of unselfish service.

I am sure it wasn’t, but it won’t gain them any friends either inside or outside of the Royal Family.

We know their philanthropic work makes a difference. We know Harry’s Invictus Games is wonderful but we don’t need to be reminded about it. We can see for ourselves.

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