Meghan Markle.Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty
“It has left me, and so many others, heartbroken and reflective — knowing that the legacy he leaves for our furry friends is beautifully simple: just love them,” the Duchess of Sussex, 40, wrote. “Especially those left behind or forgotten. In his memory, we will be creating the Oli Juste wing at Mayhew, to shelter the animals who may have a harder time finding their forever homes. Because much like Oli, they will never be forgotten, and they will always be loved.”
Meghan also shared that Oli and his fiancé, Rob, “helped care for my rescue dog, Guy, when I had just moved to the U.K. and he was recovering from a debilitating accident. They loved him as though he was their own.”
Meghan, who shares two dogs withPrince Harry, said she “fell in love” with Mayhew after Oli introduced the organization to her while she was exploring organizations to volunteer with. She became their royal patron in Jan. 2019, making animal welfare one of the key causes she would champion in her royal life.
Meghan Markle meets a Jack Russell named “Maggi” during her visit to the animal welfare charity Mayhew in London on January 16, 2019.
Although she continued to support Mayhew after she andPrince Harrystepped back from their roles as working royals and moved to California in 2020, Meghan and Mayhew announced Wednesday that she is no longer a patron of the organization.
“Our Royal Patronage with The Duchess of Sussex came to an end at the beginning of the year. It’s been an incredible privilege for Mayhew to have worked closely with Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, since 2019 when she became our Patron,” Mayhew said in a statement.
“Though my time as patron of Mayhew has come to a close, my unwavering support has not. I encourage each of you to support in whatever way you are able,” Meghan wrote in her message. “The emotional support of a rescue animal is unparalleled — as you’ll soon realize: it is not you who saves them, it is they who save you.”
Meghanvisited the organizationin 2019 while pregnant with son Archie and wasmemorably very taken with one of the dogs: a Jack Russell named Minnie.
The Duchess of Sussexsecretly visited Mayhewduring a Jan. 2020 visit to London and alsowrote the forwardfor the organization’s annual review that year.
“As an expression of my own commitment, I renewed my sponsorship of a dog kennel in the name of our son, Archie, to create an interim home for a pet in need,” she said. “I hope you will show them your support in whatever ways you can. When you do, you will be contributing not just to animal welfare but to the shared welfare of us all.”
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source: people.com
