Meghan Markle rarely speaks to the press these days. With good reason. Since she and her husband, Prince Harry, officially stepped down from royal duties and relocated to California, the Duchess of Sussex has been dragged through so much drama she could write a book about it.
Fighting the British tabloids for defamation and breach of privacy while raising two children is hard work. Dealing with her half-sister Samantha Markle who is taking her to court, and her father making less generous statements about her to the press is well over the top.
On top of all of that, Meghan Markle is a strong figure to us all
Losing a loved one is never easy, especially if that someone made a huge impact on your life. Animal behaviorist Oli Juste passed away earlier this year, and Meghan Markle recently released a statement on the website Mayhew in tribute to a close friend and legend in his field. He had earlier introduced the duchess to Mayhew, an animal welfare she has since supported as a royal patron.
“On January 15, 2022, my beloved friend Oli tragically and very suddenly passed away,” Meghan wrote. “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.”
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Meghan was in search of a charity to support four years prior
Meghan knew Oli for quite some time before electing Mayhew as her charity of choice. “He knew that beyond their adoption and rescue programs, their international work to keep animals safe, and their local work to find abandoned pets homes. I would be drawn to their deep love of community, which transcended the animals themselves, and extended to the people around them.” She said. “He was right.”
Oli once cared for Meghan Markle’s own pup, Guy
Oli and his fiancé at one stage, also served as caregivers to Meghan’s pup, connected by their love for animals. “In fact, it was Oli and his fiancé Rob who helped care for my rescue dog, Guy, when I had just moved to the UK and he was recovering from a debilitating accident,” Meghan recalled. “They loved him as though he was their own.”
Her three-year patronage with Mayhew has since ended, but her support is ongoing
Meghan has mentioned that although her royal duties to the charity ended three years ago, she is still very much involved with the organization. She also reminded us all that Oli’s memory will forever live on through the charity. Never forgetting all the magnificent work that he did to help countless animals.
“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,” she said. “Because much like Oli, they will never be forgotten, and they will always be loved. In his honor, we will establish the Oli Juste wing at Mayhew to house animals.”
Keep Reading: The Hidden Royal Sister of the Windsor Family
Sources
- “A “Heartbroken” Meghan Markle Mourns Death of Friend Oli Juste.” E-Online. Kelly Gilmore. April 7, 2022.
- “Meghan Markle Is Mourning The Tragic Loss Of A Close Friend.” NickiSwift. Kathleen Walsh. April 6, 2022.
- “A message from Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex” Mayhew. April 06, 2022.
