Prince Harry and Meghan Markle split from joint charity with Prince William and Kate Middleton

Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to break away from Royal Foundation

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to formally split from their joint charity with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and set up their own foundation.

The Royal Foundation confirmed the news on Thursday, explaining that the split marks the final step in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s division of the couples’ public duties.

Prince William and Kate Middleton will remain with the original charity, which will be renamed the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The Foundation stated that the decision was made following the conclusion of a review into its structure.

It added that both couples will continue to work together in the future, including on the Heads Together mental health campaign.

The decision was taken to “better align” their charitable activities, it said.

Speaking about the split, royal historian Hugo Vickers tells The Independent: “It’s a pity in a way.

“They seemed to be a strong unit but it seems to be indicative of a general separation of interests and focuses. I’m not surprised.”

A statement about the division from Kensington Palace explains that the changes are designed to “best complement the work and responsibilities of Their Royal Highnesses as they prepare for their future roles, and to better align their charitable activity with their new households.

“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are incredibly proud of what they have achieved together through The Royal Foundation.

“They are especially proud to have established a charity that has had, and will continue to have, significant long-lasting impact, changing lives for the better.

In March, the Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II had agreed to the creation of a new Household for Harry and Meghan, following their marriage last May.

(Getty Images)

The Queen granted the couple an official Household Office at Buckingham Palace. Their former joint offices with Kate and William will remain at Kensington Palace.

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With the launch of the new Household, Harry and Meghan – who welcomed their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor in May – will appoint new communications staff, who will form part of the Buckingham Palace communications team and report to The Queen’s Communications Secretary, Donal McCabe.

“Kensington Palace will continue to support Their Royal Highnesses until that team is in place,” according to the statement.