Meghan and Harry have certainly hit the ground running when it comes to their newlywed world . . . Not only did they attend their first official engagement as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex just three days after their wedding, but they have also popped up at Trooping the Colour [1] and Royal Ascot [2] – while Meghan accompanied the queen [3] on a day of engagements to Chester. On the personal side, they have also made time to go on honeymoon and a Spencer family wedding [4].
So what's next for the royal lovebirds? One thing is for sure: they will have a jam-packed first year of married life ahead of them – let's break it down!
Remembrance Sunday
Now that Meghan is a full-fledged member of the royal family, she will likely accompany husband Harry to the Remembrance Sunday service in November. As Harry served in the armed forces [5] for 10 years, he lays a wreath of poppies every year at the ceremony, so we'll likely see Meghan with Kate watching from the balcony.
Buckingham Palace Christmas Reception
An important official date on the royal calendar [6] is the queen's annual Christmas party at Buckingham Palace [7] where she hosts diplomats and dignitaries. It's likely that Harry and Meghan will attend this year, which would mean seeing Meghan in a tiara borrowed from the queen [8] again, as the function has a white-tie dress code.
Royal Christmas at Sandringham?
Although Meghan has already experienced a royal Christmas [9] at the queen's Norfolk residence Sandringham, this would be her first as the Duchess of Sussex. There is also a chance Harry and Meghan may head to California for Christmas with the duchess's mother, Doria.
Meghan's Charity Patronages
The Duchess of Cambridge's charity patronages [10] were announced within her first year of marriage, and so it's likely that Meghan's will be too. The new royal will have been taking meetings and making visits as she decides which areas she can help the most, and there is likely to be an initial handful of organisations chosen of which Meghan will become patron.
Meghan's First Solo Engagement
Although Meghan has already undertaken a day of engagements with the queen, another biggie for the new duchess will be the first that she does completely on her own.
Meghan's First Royal Speech
As a former actress and activist, Meghan has already given a few speeches in her time, but none yet as a member of the royal family. It's likely that her first speech [11] will be connected with one of the charities of which she becomes patron, and it's sure to happen within her first year of married life.
Harry and Meghan's First Royal Tour
This Autumn all eyes will be on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they head overseas for their first royal tour. They are committed to attend events at the Invictus Games [12], which will be held in Sydney, Australia, October 20-27, and their tour is being shaped around that. The tour will include other engagements in Australia, as well as New Zealand, Fiji, and the Kingdom of Tonga – and is likely to last more than a week.
Moving House
Harry and Meghan have set up home in cosy Nottingham Cottage [13], which is part of the Kensington Palace complex, but now that they are married and are highly visible figureheads of the royal family, they will be moving to roomier accommodation sooner rather than later. They are due to move into Apartment 1 in Kensington Palace as soon as refurbishments are finished – likely choosing the roomier digs as they have both spoken about wanting to have children, as well as as senior royals they will now be receiving their fair share of official guests.
A House in the Country?
Harry grew up with one foot in the city – where he and his family spent their weeks based in Kensington Palace – and one foot in the countryside – as they would decamp on the weekends to Prince Charles's home Highgrove in Gloucestershire. Meghan also loves the outdoors, and so it's likely the couple will be considering a second home in the countryside, to escape city life whenever the mood takes them. One of the obvious choices would be Gloucestershire, which is where Harry grew up, where there is a great deal of horse-related activity nearby such as polo, and where his father still has a home. The other likely option would be Norfolk, which is where William and Kate's country house Anmer Hall [14] is located, as well as the queen's residence Sandringham.
Adding to Their Family?
Of course, the one big announcement that royal-watchers will be waiting for is the news that Harry and Meghan will be adding to their family. It's unlikely anything will happen before their big Autumn tour, but after that it's just a matter of when . . .