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The standout moment from an eventful year as a 33-year-old for Harry was his glittering marriage to Meghan at Windsor Castle in May, attracting the attention of billions of people worldwide.
The ceremony also saw the Duke give his new wife a ring he had designed with a diamond from Botswana and two from the collection of his late mother, Princess Diana.
Prince Harry and Meghan have also done a fantastic job in continuing to portray the positive image the royal family has always wished for, so much so that according to Richard Fitzwilliams, they can lead the charge of the monarchy for many years to come.
The royal commentator highlights the third Invictus Games, for injured service men and women in Toronto last September, which marked their first official appearance as a couple and led to a worldwide media frenzy.
This attention will no doubt be repeated next month during Harry and Meghan’s Commonwealth tour, with Fitzwilliams highlighting the Duke’s appointment as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador in April and President of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, which was set up in 2015 to protect rainforests.
Before marrying her husband, Meghan Markle was a counsellor for international charity One Young World and at the 2014 summit in Dublin, spoke on the topics of gender equality and modern-day slavery.
In 2016, she became a global ambassador for World Vision Canada, travelling to Rwanda for the Clean Water Campaign, and also travelled to India to raise awareness of issues concerning women.
She has also worked as an advocate for the United Nations Equity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
Prince Harry birthday: The Duke and Meghan can be “trailblazers” for the monarchy of the future (Image: GETTY)
Her royal patronages are yet to be revealed, but Mr Fitzwilliams believes female empowerment, diversity, gender equality, LGBT and mental health issues are likely to feature.
He told Express.co.uk: “For Harry it has been a year of no regrets. We have seen him meet the love of his life and achieve the happiness which has so often eluded him as he has revealed in interviews leading up to the 20th anniversary of the death of Diana.
“Meghan was American, a divorcee, biracial and a former actress. Senior members of the royal family were marrying for love as Prince William had and Harry had a soulmate who was also a humanitarian activist who would be his partner in charitable endeavours that would be inspired by Diana.
“With Meghan and Harry’s Commonwealth tour next month certain to be the focus of vast media attention, it has been of considerable significance that Harry was appointed Commonwealth Youth Ambassador in April and also made the President of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, which encourages and connects young leaders.
Prince Harry birthday: Marrying Meghan Markle is a “tam come true” for the Duke (Image: GETTY)
“Harry and Meghan are the perfect complement to William and Kate. They are neighbours in Kensington Palace of course, but in their Royal Foundation they can all champion good causes with the unique access that being a senior member of the world’s most influential royal family brings.
“Everyone knows William will one day be King and Harry is sixth in line to the throne but this allows him and Meghan to champion causes more informally, which widens the monarchy’s appeal.
“Meghan wants to ‘hit the ground running’ with her charitable work and both of them, in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2018, will undoubtedly be trailblazers for the monarchy of the future.”
Mr Fitzwilliams says marrying Meghan “is a dream come true” for Harry because he has finally found someone who can cope with the intense media attention that comes with the royal family.
Prince Harry birthday: The Duke and Meghan are the “perfect complement” to William and Kate (Image: GETTY)
This won’t have been helped by the numerous controversial interviews given by the Markle family to the world media in which they have criticised Meghan, Harry and the royal family as a whole, something Mr Fitzwilliams labels “utterly deplorable”.
But despite this, he believes Meghan has overcome the storm of unwanted publicity with class, proving she can be an integral figure in the royal family for many years to come.
Mr Fitzwilliams said: “A few years ago, Harry could not have predicted what has happened to him.
“His former girlfriends could not cope with the media firestorm which accompanies everything he does and he disclosed he had led a troubled life after his mother’s death for many years.
Prince Harry birthday: Princess Diana would “undoubtedly be delighted and thrilled” for her son (Image: GETTY)
“Obviously the interviews by members of the Markle family have been utterly deplorable, and this has been stressful, especially for Meghan after her father gave interviews to the press after co-operating with the paparazzi over photographs.
“Harry said it would be difficult to find someone who would take him on given the scale of media interest in everything he did. In this sense marrying Meghan is a dream come true for him.
“Princess Diana would undoubtedly be delighted and thrilled with what Harry has achieved and with his marriage.
“The way he and William have begun a debate on the previously taboo subject of mental illness and formed Heads Together would, I am sure, particularly please her.”
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