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Meghan and Prince Harry officially stepped down as senior royals on March 31. However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex started reducing their number of royal engagements in late January, after they announced their intention to modify their royal status and “carve out a new progressive role” within the Royal Family. 

But the mark they have left during their 22 months as full-time working royals continues to last within the palace, one royal expert believes.

Royal historian Marlene Koenig told Express.co.uk: “The Sussexes may no longer be senior royals, but that does not mean their impact ended with their departure.”

Mr Koenig discussed the powerful message shared by the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust on Twitter on Monday.

The trust, which works with young people from across the Commonwealth and seeks to empower young leaders of tomorrow, publicly backed the Black Lives Matter movement. 

As people across the US and the world took to the streets to protest against systematic racism, the organisation stated: “Silence is not an option”.

The QCT, founded in the spring of last year, is supported by the Queen as its patron, while its president and vice-president are respectively the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

A spokeswoman of the trust confirmed to Express.co.uk “its messages are its own” and didn’t seek the approval of its royal affiliates ahead of sending this message as it works independently.

However, Mr Koenig believes both the Queen and the Sussexes appreciated the QCT’s message.

She said: “The Royal Family did not make the statement, The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust did.

“If you look at the website, you will see that the Trust advocates service to others, which is something the Queen spoke about in her 21st birthday speech.

“The Board carries out the day to day operations of the trust.

“But you can be sure the Queen and the Duke and Duchess support the message, which has been reiterated by the Duchess in her commencement speech to her High School.”

Meghan filmed a graduation address earlier this week, in which she backed the Black Lives Matter movement, recalled her memories of the LA riots in 1992 and urged young people to use their voices to rebuild the society.

She said: “The first thing I want to say to you is that I’m sorry. 

“I’m so sorry you have to grow up in a world where this is still present.

“I was 11 or 12 years old when I was just about to start Immaculate Heart Middle School in the fall, and it was the LA riots, which were also triggered by a senseless act of racism,” she said.

“I remember the curfew and I remember rushing back home and on that drive home seeing ash fall from the sky and smelling the smoke — and seeing the smoke billow out of buildings and seeing people run out of buildings and looting and seeing men in the back of the van just holding guns and rifles.”

The QCT hasn’t been the only association linked to royals to have backed Black Lives Matter.

The Diana Award, which has the support of Prince William and Prince Harry, also shared a message on Twitter saying “we will not be silent” in the wake of the death of George Floyd. 

Similarly, Heads Together, the project launched by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex in 2016, spoke up in favour of the black community.

The organisation said in a tweet: “We stand with the black community.

“Today and every day.

“Your mental health matters & our charity partners are there for you if you need support.

“However you’re feeling, you are not alone and talking can help.”  

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