Meghan Markle has penned a rare essay and the topic is very close to her heart

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18th Jun 2019

The Duchess of Sussex may be on maternity leave from royal duties after giving birth to son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, on May 6, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to hear from or see the actress-turned-duchess until she returns to royal duties reportedly in the UK autumn (Australia’s spring) this year.

Since Archie’s birth in May we’ve already seen the duchess, 37, a handful of times including, an official photocall days after Archie was born to introduce the newest member of the British royal family to the world, during The Queen’s birthday celebrations at the Trooping the Colour earlier this month, and on Instagram, where she shared a very sweet snap of Archie’s feet cradled in her hand on Mother’s Day.

During her maternity leave, the duchess appears to still be quietly working on her patronages, the causes she has been named responsible for on behalf of The Queen.

Late last week, animal welfare charity Mayhew released their annual review for 2018 and while it’s not a document that would usually garner wide readership, it’s become a must-read, after it was revealed that the duchess penned the review’s foreword. Raising awareness of this cause, even while she’s on maternity leave, is exactly why Markle is the ideal royal patron for Mayhew.

As for the foreword itself, it is basically an essay in which Markle shares her “joy” of being a rescue dog owner. “As a proud rescue dog owner, I know from personal experience the joy that adopting an animal into your home can bring,” Markle writes in the Mayhew review foreword.

“The choice to adopt a pet is a big decision that comes with much responsibility. It will undoubtedly change your life.” Markle pens, finishing with a call to action to get involved with Mayhew and pet adoption in any possible way.

Markle does indeed speak from experience and the heart. According to Vanity Fair, before Markle married a prince and moved to a castle in the UK, Markle had two rescue dogs — Guy and Bogart. Guy and Bogart lived with her in Toronto, where she was based while she filmed Suits. However, when the duchess moved to London to wed Prince Harry only Guy, a beagle, was able to make the trip (the dog is such a special part of the family, he even travelled in the car with The Queen to Windsor for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s May 2018 royal wedding). Bogart stayed behind in Toronto with a friend, as he was reportedly too old to make the transatlantic trip. 

Markle was rumoured to have been heartbroken over having to leave Bogart behind (she clearly loves being a rescue dog owner). However, she and Prince Harry have reportedly adopted a new dog to keep Guy company and round out their rescue dog-loving family.