Meghan Markle and Prince Harry share behind-the-scenes photo from Buckingham Palace meeting

Couple are due to step down as senior royals at end of month

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared a behind-the-scenes photograph of a meeting they recently undertook at Buckingham Palace.

In the black and white image, which was shared on the couple’s official Instagram account, they are sitting on a sofa while speaking with young leaders.

Meghan is beaming while sitting with her hands interlocked at her knees, while Prince Harry is laughing while rocking back in his seat, his feet in the air.

The picture was taken during a meeting the duke and duchess shared with young leaders from the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT) last week.

Prince Harry and Meghan hold the roles of president and vice-president of the charity, which aims to champion, fund and connect young leaders working to change the world.

The couple shared photographs on social media of their recent QCT meeting following their final royal engagement, which took place on Sunday at the Commonwealth Service.

Meghan and Prince Harry are due to formally step down as senior, working members of the royal family on Tuesday 31 March.

The young leaders invited to the recent QCT meeting included social entrepreneur Kenny Imafidon, founder of the sTandTall charity Esther Marshall, and co-founders of Birmingham-based female empowerment organisation GirlDreamer, Kiran Kaur and Amna Akhtar.

The charity shared a video online of the leaders’ exchange with the Sussexes, in which the group discussed “mental health, equal opportunities for all, and the importance of supporting youth leadership to help address global challenges and drive positive change around the world”.

In the two-and-a-half-minute video, Prince Harry states: “Without something to aim for, you can’t unlock the potential, right?”

He adds: “I bet it’s made all the difference, right to connect all of you guys.”​

Meghan also emphasised the impact of QCT, saying: “To build this network, the QCT, so you have a support system and a sound board to continue to bounce these ideas off of.”

Several of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex‘s Instagram followers commented on the black and white outtake they shared from their meeting.

“Love this! You both looks so very happy and at ease,” one person remarked.

“This is when they are their happiest! Doing work that they love around people that are inspired by them,” another said.

In February, Meghan and Prince Harry revealed how they plan on transitioning away from working royal life.

In a statement published on their website, the couple said that the royal family “respect and understand” their wish to live a more independent life, and that they will become “privately funded members of the royal family with permission to earn their own income and the ability to pursue their own private charitable interests”.