The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were stripped of their patronages and honorary positions when they stepped down from their senior royal roles. While they had initially planned to continue their work with charities and organisations on behalf of the monarch, she firmly slapped down their half-in half-out work model. And now, following more than a year of cancelled engagements due to the Covid pandemic, Her Majesty is looking to get things back on track by appointing Kate as patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Rugby Football League (RFL).
The positions previously held by Harry are set to be announced in the coming months, according to The Sunday Times.
The Queen will likely go public with her plan to usher Kate in to fill Harry's shoes before the rugby league World Cup in October and November.
The duchess, 39, is a well-known lover of the outdoors and has long championed the benefits of sport for physical and mental health.
Growing up in the Berkshire village of Bucklebury, Kate was accustomed to rugby and would often watch games with her sports-mad family.
Her younger sister Pippa delved into the family's love for the sport in a 2014 article for Vanity Fair magazine.
She said: “Picture the scene. It’s Saturday afternoon in the Middleton household. The atmosphere is heavy with expectation.
"All eyes are on the television ... we’re watching England play Ireland in the 1996 Five Nations Rugby tournament ... Rugby was a big thing in our family, and the focal point was international matches.
"We’d plan our weekends around the matches ... If we lost, my dad would be in a state of despair for the rest of the afternoon, as if he’d actually lost the game himself.”
However, Kate won't be the first in the Cambridge household to hold a patronage with the sport as Prince William is patron of the Welsh Rugby Union.
Discussions between the Queen, members of her family and royal aides on who should fill the remaining patronages stripped from Harry and Meghan are continuing.
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4.30am update: Meghan Markle has 'guts and self-belief' to be US President and could run within 10 years
Not content with having conquered the Royal Family, the Duchess now appears to have her eyes firmly set on scaling the political heights of Washington.
Tom Bower, who is working on a biography about Meghan, believes the prospect of a President Markle is realistic.
Writing in The Sun, he points out that California has a tradition of electing Hollywood actors to political office.
The most famous of those was Ronald Reagan, who served two terms as Governor of California, before eventually being propelled to the White House.
Mr Bower argues that the Duchess of Sussex could use California as a similar launchpad for her political ambitions.
"With the support of Democrat godfathers the Clintons and the Obamas, Meghan should have little difficulty getting -nominated as one of the state’s 40 Congressmen sent to Washington," he writes.
3.30am update: Her Majesty makes light work of US tourists who asked her 'Have you ever met the Queen?'
The Queen's quick-wittedness was on show when she was asked a confusing question by US tourists at Balmoral.
Her Majesty, 95, was approached by an American tourist group as she enjoyed a stroll on her Aberdeenshire estate. Richard Griffin, former royal protection officer, described the chance encounter.
Mr Griffin told The Times about how the group asked the monarch, wearing a headscarf and tweed coat, if she lived locally.
2am update: No colour in sight - How Princess Eugenie has redecorated Frogmore Cottage
Frogmore Cottage is home to Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank after Prince Harry and Meghan moved permanently to America in March 2020.
Frogmore Cottage is located just a few minutes from Windsor Castle, and the Sussexes moved in in April 2019 just before their son Archie was born in May.
The pair famously renovated the royal residence during their time at Frogmore, intending to use the residence as their UK home whenever they chose to come and visit.
However, it was later revealed Harry and Meghan gave Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank Frogmore Cottage to use as their home ahead of the arrival of their first baby August, who was born in February 2021.
12.30am update: Kate Middleton and William split: How friends 'isolated' Kate with nasty family jibes
Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge's separation during their dating years is no secret - the couple said they were stronger after time apart. But now, old details have been unearthed of some problems surrounding the couple at the time.
Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, appear to have the fairytale life: lavish royal wedding in 2011, three beautiful children, and a palace they call home. But in 2007, the couple took a break after dating for six years, and while they mended what was ruptured, there appear to have been some hurtful things said.
According to an old report unearthed by The Mirror, William's friends made personal and hurtful comments about Kate's family, which contributed to the breakup.
The report, published while the couple was split, said some of William's pals believed Kate's mother, Carole, was unworthy of her affiliations with the royals.
Carole Middleton, 66, was an air stewardess before marrying husband Michael and starting her own lucrative party supply business.
11.30pm update: Kate and William will share less 'precious time' with their children as they grow older
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been afforded lighter work schedules to allow them more time with their young family.
Engagements are also said to be planned around their kids' school timetables.
However, as the children grow older, Kate and William will most likely have to take on more work and face busier schedules - all of which means less time with the family.
Gertrude Daly, who runs the Gerts Royal replies website, told the Daily Star: "Prince William and Duchess Kate have been taking on more and more duties over the years, but while their children are young and living at home, they have been given a bit of a reprieve."
Alex Shipman is taking over from Rachel Russell
9.40pm update: Kate Middleton working to ‘pacify’ Meghan Markle and simmer tensions after Lili’s birth
Relationship expert Sami Wunder told Express.co.uk that Kate’s efforts were trying to “pacify” Meghan and that things are “on the mend”.
She said: “For the last month I haven’t seen anything new and negative come up from Harry and Meghan after Lili’s birth and I think Kate is making amends and trying to pacify Meghan.
“Because I actually believe Meghan came in with a lot of passion to do good work and she had really good intentions and I think there is huge disappointment on the part of Harry and Meghan, because they did try and they really did want to do good for the Royal Family.
“So do I believe there is hope for reconciliation? Absolutely.”
8.56pm update: Prince Harry’s memoir plans dismantled by expert: ‘Do we need a running commentary?’
Pod Save the Queen is hosted by Ann Gripper and features Daily Mirror royal ediot Russell Myers.
Ms Gripper argued that, if Harry has signed a multi-book deal, it is likely that each one will document a stage of his life.
She compared it to footballers who write one when they are young, another when they retire from football and another when they have a second career of managing or similar under their belt.
6.20pm update: Prince Harry and William reunion chance emerges as royals could fight royal satire cartoon
Sunday Express editor Michael Booker appeared on GB News and looked at the trailer of "The Prince" cartoon which mocks the Royal Family including Princess Charlotte and Princes George and Louis.
4.50pm update: Royal fury after Harry and Meghan’s ‘big, big breach’ of William and Kate’s trust
Relationship expert Sami Wunder told Express.co.uk that the brothers need to work together to rebuild this trust and make sure their future conversations remain private.
3.16pm update: Royal Family made 'deeply regrettable' mistake with Meghan Markle - Expert claims
Meghan Markle, 39, and Prince Harry, 36, announced their engagement in November 2017. But after the news went public the Royal Family failed to introduce the future Duchess of Sussex to royal journalists in the same way the did with Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, 39, when she became engaged to Prince William, 39, an expert has claimed.
Writing in this week's Telegraph royal newsletter expert and editor Camilla Tominey brands the Firm's failure to treat Meghan the same as Kate "deeply regrettable" and argues it may have helped cement the "anti-press" stance Harry and Meghan hold to this day.
2.16pm update: 'Brits do NOT want Charles!' Royal Family sent warning over Prince of Wales' popularity
The Royal Family has been warned by the CEO of Republic they could face "significant problems" when Prince Charles succeeds the Queen as the Prince of Wales is not as popular with the British public.
Graham Smith told Express.co.uk that a section of the British public do not want Prince Charles to succeed Queen Elizabeth II as the UK's head of state and instead want to be given a choice.
However, the Republic CEO admitted that Prince Charles will take the throne after his mother regardless of his ranking in opinion polls.
Mr Smith said: "People do not particularly want Charles, I suspect the people that say Charles are the believers who think it ought to be Charles because he is the heir.
"And so their reaction is that, of course, it should be Charles.
"I think everybody else wants to have a choice.
"This is where British values and people's expectations and opinions about individuals collide with the monarchy."
1.31pm update: Kate Middleton new role: Which royal patronages is Duchess taking on from Prince Harry?
The Duchess of Cambridge is expected to take on two of the royal patronages Prince Harry had to leave behind after quitting the Firm. What are the new roles?
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, 39, and Prince William, 39, are thought of highly by Queen Elizabeth II, 95, and have provided vital support to the Crown since Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan Markle, 39, quit royal life last year.
One year on from the Megxit, the Queen confirmed the Sussexes would lose the official patronages they held as working members of the monarchy.
A Palace statement released in February read: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family.
"Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.
"The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family."
12.41pm update: Meghan Markle birthday party details in full as Duchess plans 'low-key' 40th
Meghan Markle will be 40 next week and has enlisted the help of a celebrity party planner to celebrate the milestone, an insider has claimed.
Meghan Markle, 39, will be 40 on August 4 and plans to celebrate at home with Prince Harry, 36, and friends at their Montecito mansion, a source told the Mirror.
The Sussexes have been based in California since their royal stepdown last year and are neighbours with a host of celebrities including their close friend Oprah Winfrey.
Meghan has enlisted top celebrity wedding and event planner, Colin Cowie, to organise her birthday bash, after he was recommended to her by Oprah, a source has claimed.
11.06am update: Kate and William warned about 'crossing line' in Scotland -Risk 'playing' into SNP's hands
Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William have been warned against "crossing the line" in Scotland amid an ongoing debate over independence, by the CEO of Republic.
Graham Smith told Express.co.uk the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge must be careful not to "cross the line" in Scotland with a "pro-union" message as the nation could soon face a second independence referendum, if Nicola Sturgeon gets her wish.
Mr Smith added Prince William and Kate would be playing into Ms Sturgeon and the SNP's hands if the couple crossed the line as tensions rise in Scotland.
Republic is an orgainsation that campaigns for the monarchy to be abolished and the UK to have a democratic, elected head of state.
Mr Smith said: "I think there is a fine line to tread.
"If they are just going to Scotland to fly the flag as it were, it is not unreasonable for the head of state and the royals to do that on her behalf.
"But if they start doing things that are advertently pro-union in the middle of a Scottish wide debate about independence then I think that is crossing the line and they need to be very careful."
10.14am update: Harry and Meghan: Could they visit Queen after quarantine scrapped for jabbed US visitors
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not been back to the UK as a family since 2019. Could the Sussexes visit the Queen this summer as quarantine is about to be scrapped for fully-vaccinated US visitors?
Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan Markle, 39, have made a life for themselves in California since stepping down as senior royals.
The couple live in a mansion in Montecito, Santa Barbara with their son Archie Harrison, two, and daughter Lili who was born in June.
Last year the Sussexes had to pass up Queen Elizabeth II's, 95, invitation due to the ongoing pandemic but could make the trip this year with quarantine restrictions about to change.
From 4am tomorrow, US visitors who have had two Covid-19 vaccinations will be able to visit England and Scotland without quarantining.
The Government's updated travel advice for those coming from the USA reads: "From August 2 (4am), you will not have to quarantine or take a day eight test when you arrive in England if you’ve been:
"In an amber list country (and have not been in or passed through a red list country, or France) in the 10 days before arriving."
9.31am update: Princess Anne 'good fit' to take Prince Harry's honorary Royal Marines title: 'Very keen!'
Princess Anne is set to become the first woman to hold the title of Captain-General of the Royal Marines and she is "very keen" to take up the post stripped from Prince Harry after Megxit, according to reports.
The Princess Royal is seen as a "good fit" for the position which was passed down from Prince Philip to Harry upon his retirement from royal duties in December 2017.
The Duke of Edinburgh had inherited the title in 1953 from the late King George VI, who died a year earlier.
Senior military sources suggested Anne was "nailed on" as the next Captain-General of the Royal Marines.
A senior Royal Marines source told The Sunday Time: “Princess Anne has already done a lot with us over the years.
"She’s really well connected to the navy and, as a consequence, has a soft spot for the Royal Marines.
"We are very comfortable with her, especially given her outstanding sporting background. She is a good fit.”
8.05am update: Americans able to enjoy Royal Family through Prince Harry without 'historical baggage'
American audiences can enjoy a "slice" of the Royal Family through Prince Harry and Meghan without having to deal with the constitutional and historical baggage that comes with the institution considering the United State's history with the monarchy, an academic explained.
Lecturer at the University of British Columbia and Queen Victoria history expert Dr Sarika Bose spoke with Express.co.uk and believed American audiences could enjoy the Royal Family without diving into the muddied history the country has had with the Royal Family.
Hard-line American Conservatives have positioned themselves as being opposed to the Royal Family as they hark back to the American Revolutionary War and continue to be wary of a constitutional monarchy interfering in US politics in any way.
But Dr Bose believes Prince Harry and Meghan offer a half-way solution for Americans by providing the royal experience without the protocols and responsibilities that come with the monarchy.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Dr Bose was asked whether Americans enjoyed Harry and Meghan because they did not have any baggage that came along with them that may force politicised opposition.
7.55am update: Princess Diana niece Lady Kitty speaks out after father Earl Spencer missed wedding
Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty Spencer has spoken out for the first time since her lavish wedding. The aristocrat was walked down the aisle by her half-brothers as her father Earl Spencer missed her big day.
Lady Kitty Spencer, 30, married Michael Lewis, 62, in Rome last weekend and stunning pictures from the nuptials delighted fans on Instagram.
The British aristocrat and model is Princess Diana's niece and wowed in a series of gorgeous Dolce and Gabbana gowns throughout the three-day celebration.
The fashion house posted footage from the ceremony including a snippet of Kitty being given away by her two half-brothers, Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and Samuel Aitken, while her father Charles, Earl Spencer was absent from the event.
Last Thursday Kitty spoke out for the first time since her wedding to pay tribute to her half-brothers on Instagram.
7.53am update: Queen tea! Royal chef lays bare monarch’s favourite afternoon snack - 'Whole cake'
The Queen's afternoon tea habits have been laid bare by a former royal chef.
Darren McGrady, who has shocked fans over the years with his culinary revelations, revealed the monarch’s preferences for one of the nation’s favourite pastimes.
He told Hello! the 95-year-old is a huge fan of ginger cakes and chocolate biscuit cakes.
Her Majesty is such a big fan of the cakes she has even been known to take some with her on her travels.
Mr McGrady said: “The royal chefs send a whole cake up to Her Majesty every day for tea.
“She will sometimes take a slice and then it is never seen at the royal table again.
“The chocolate biscuit cake is the only cake that goes up to the royal table every day until it has all gone – sometimes this means it following her to Windsor Castle for the weekend.”
7.49am update: 'How cute!' Princess Eugenie’s sweet family nickname unveiled in Fergie photoshoot
Princess Eugenie's sweet family nickname has been unveiled during Sarah Ferguson's latest photoshoot.
Appearing in the August 2021 issue of Town & Country magazine, the Duchess of York, 61, is pictured posing on a swinging rope seat suspended under a grand tree in a stunning garden. In a touching tribute, the wooden seat is engraved with the names of her daughter and son-in-law.
But eagle-eyed royal fans have been quick to point out Eugenie’s cute nickname used in the shot.
‘Euge & Jack’ can be made out inscribed beneath Fergie - acting as a touching tribute to the couple who recently welcomed their first child earlier this year.
One twitter user who spotted the heartwarming tribute said: “How cute! In a picture taken of The Duchess of York at Royal Lodge for her new interview for @TandCmag she is standing on a swing engraved with ‘Euge & Jack’.”