The charity World Vision has paid tribute to Prince Harry’s bride-to-be Meghan Markle, saying the “true humanitarian” will bring “vast energy” to her royal work.
The former Suits star is giving up her current charitable commitments with the organisation to focus on her new life as a member of the royal family with a “clean slate”.
World Vision’s Lara Dewar, who travelled to India with Ms Markle earlier this year, thanked the actress for her support and praised her passion for improving children’s lives and campaigning for girls’ rights.
“Meghan is a true humanitarian,” the chief marketing and development officer said. “We’re deeply grateful for her contribution as a global ambassador for World Vision over the past two years and for helping to raise awareness for the world’s most vulnerable children.
“I personally witnessed Meghan’s passion to improve the lives of children, and know her heart to advocate for the rights of girls – to hear and amplify their important voices.
“She will undoubtedly bring vast energy to her charity work as a member of the royal family. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for her and Prince Harry – a couple who clearly have a heart for social justice.”
Ms Markle will become a full time royal after marrying Prince Harry in May at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
She will join the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry as its fourth patron.
Kensington Palace said on Tuesday that the American star would become a British citizen, and also would be focusing on her new life, rather than past charities.
Harry’s communications secretary Jason Knauf said: “She has made the decision that she wants to start with a clean slate and focus on the UK, and getting to know this country, and travelling around the Commonwealth.”
It could be that Ms Markle decides to become royal patron of World Vision at a later date, but nothing has yet been confirmed.
Behind the scenes, the actress has been described as “warm and good-humoured” and, like Harry, a natural with children.
“She really, really gets on with children and is connected to the children. She has a brightness and a warmth,” one source said.
“The charity work really struck a chord with her.”
Meghan Markle during her visit to Rwanda (World Vision/PA)
Ms Markle became a World Vision Global Ambassador after heading to Rwanda with the organisation in February 2016 when she saw the impact of clean water on the lives of children and communities in Africa.
While visiting a school in Rwanda, she met 25 students who now have access to a clean water pipeline, built by World Vision.
Ms Markle taught the students to paint with watercolours using water from the pipeline during her stay.
In January this year, she travelled to Delhi and Mumbai with World Vision, which is a global relief, development and advocacy charity, and afterwards wrote an article highlighting the plight of girls in India who are stigmatised when they are menstruating.
She wrote at length for Time magazine’s website about how the schooling of young women in the Commonwealth country is disrupted when they have their period.
“During my time in the field, many girls shared that they feel embarrassed to go to school during their periods. Ill-equipped with rags instead of pads, unable to participate in sports and without bathrooms available to care for themselves, they often opt to drop out of school entirely,” she said.
She went on to say: “When a girl misses school because of her period, cumulatively that puts her behind her male classmates by 145 days.”
Ms Markle wrote about the issue of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), adding: “To remedy this problem, young girls need MHM, access to toilets and, at a most basic level, sanitary pads.
“Twenty-three percent of girls in India drop out of school because these factors are not at play.”
The engagement of Harry and Ms Markle, who met on a blind date, was announced on Monday – 16 months after they began their whirlwind romance.
Harry proposed during a cosy night in over a roast chicken dinner and has told of how ”the stars were aligned” when he fell for his future wife.
Palace aides revealed more details about the big day, saying it would be would reflect the couple’s “characters and personalities” and be a moment of ”fun and joy”.
American Ms Markle is to apply to become a British citizen, and will be both baptised and confirmed ahead of the religious ceremony.