Meghan Markle's first patronages—i.e., the charities she'll be patron of and use her platform to support—have been officially given to her by the Queen and announced by the Palace this morning. Meghan will be patron of the National Theatre, the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), Smart Works, and Mayhew. Two of these organizations were passed on by the Queen—the National Theatre and ACU, which the Queen was patron of for 45 and 33 years respectively—while the other two are being newly taken on by Meghan.

The Palace announced the news on Twitter this morning in a series of tweets. It wrote:

The Duchess of Sussex will become Patron of four organizations that reflect the causes and issues with which she has long been associated including the arts, access to education, support for women and animal welfare.

The National Theatre: The Duchess is a strong believer in using the arts to bring people from different backgrounds and communities together. The National Theatre’s mission is to make world class theatre that’s entertaining, challenging and inspiring–and to make it for everyone.

The Association of Commonwealth Universities: Her Royal Highness is a strong advocate of accessible education for all. The ACU is the world's first and oldest international university network, and the only org representing higher education across all 53 Commonwealth countries.

Mayhew: The Duchess has long understood the connection between animals and community welfare. The Mayhew uses innovative ways to reduce the number of animals in need through proactive community, and educational initiatives and preventative veterinary care.

Smart Works: The Duchess has met with many women who have benefited from the charity’s support. Smart Works helps long term unemployed and vulnerable women regain the skills, confidence and tools to succeed at job interviews, return to employment and transform their lives.

Over the past year The Duchess of Sussex has held meetings and conducted private visits with each of these organizations — today she will visit Smart Works, and over the coming weeks will undertake public visits to the other three.

More details about Meghan's patronages and the work the charities do can be found here on the Palace's site.

The news comes days after the Mail on Sunday announced Meghan's first patronage, the National Theatre—a natural fit given Meghan's acting background. The role will also allow her to be involved with The American Associates of the National Theatre, a New York-based charity that supports the National Theatre's work. When the Mail on Sunday broke the news, the outlet reported that the royal family was expected to formally announce Meghan's role in the next few days.

Alyssa Bailey News and Strategy Editor Alyssa Bailey is the news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton).

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