The Queen ‘decided long ago’ which royals she will give Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s titles to ‘BEFORE they quit’

THE Queen reportedly decided long ago which royals will take on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's patronages - even before they officially quit.

The monarch will make the announcement to the Royal Family in the next few weeks, the Daily Mirror reported.

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The Queen reportedly made the decision before the announcement that Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, would not return to the Royal Family.

A royal source said: “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.” 

Princess Anne is tipped to take over from Prince Harry as Captain General of the Royal Marines.

The Princess Royal, 70, is likely to become the first female Captain General after Harry was forced to give up the role.

Her father Prince Philip held the position for 64 years until he retired in 2017.

Royal sources said it would be “provocative” if the post were given to Harry's brother William, 38.

Prince Edward is ruled out as he quit the elite force after only three weeks of commando training in 1987.

Harry is said to “bitterly disappointed” at losing the role, among a host of other positions.

Meanwhile Edward or his wife Sophie, 56, could replace Meghan as National Theatre patron.

The theatre's board was "deeply split" on whether to ask the Duchess to stay on in an unofficial role, according to the Mirror.

Harry was also stripped of his roles as patron of England Rugby Union and the Rugby Football League.

League bosses are said to hope sports fan William will take over as the face of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

Pregnant Meghan and Harry were today seen for the first time since being stripped of their titles as they appeared at an "inspiring" Spotify online event.

Meanwhile, it was reported William hopes to repair his rift with Harry now Megxit is done, but only if Meghan doesn't "unleash" in her Oprah interview.

The brothers' relationship is understood to remain fragile after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were officially stripped of their royal patronages.

William was said to be "really sad and genuinely shocked" by how his brother reacted as the Sussexes insisted they could still "live a life of service".

Sources close to William said he believed Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, had been “insulting and disrespectful” to the Queen, and he was “very upset by what has happened”.