Meghan Markle overcome with emotion as she remembers personal tragedy in London
Meghan Markle was overcome with emotion as she remembered her late friend who died suddenly two years ago.
The Duchess of Sussex was involved in the opening of a new wing of an animal charity in London, which was named after the late dog behaviourist and trainer, Oli Juste. UK-based animal rescue Mayhew Animal Home said the new wing, which aims to provide greater care for dogs in need, was dedicated in memory of Oli by Meghan.
The charity said Meghan, through The Archewell Foundation, made a donation to Mayhew when Oli died in January 2022. The new wing was opened on Wednesday and while Meghan did not attend the event in person, she sent a personal video message to remember her late friend.
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Meghan sent a video message remembering her late friend Oli Juste (PA)The video recording of the duchess was played to guests including actors Nigel Harman, Rula Lenska, Beatie Edney and Laura Aikman at the unveiling of the Oli Juste Wing at Mayhew's Centre in north London. Meghan, who is the charity's former Royal Patron, appeared in the clip in a black top and beige blazer with her hair around her shoulders. She said in her message: "A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful team at Mayhew who have worked tirelessly to bring this dream to life.
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"It was so important to find a way to celebrate Oli's memory in a manner that he would have loved. Mayhew is a beacon of hope for those in need and a shining example of what can be achieved when we work together."
A statement on Meghan and Prince Harry's brand new sussex.com website recounted the duchess' bond with Mr Juste, saying: "They shared many things throughout their friendship, among which was a deep commitment to animal welfare and a love of rescue dogs. Mayhew's mission is perfectly aligned with Oli's life's work of caring for animals.
"When he tragically passed in January 2022, The Duchess, through The Archewell Foundation, made a contribution to Mayhew in Oli's honour to continue his legacy." It added: "The Oli Juste Wing is a testament to his unwavering love and commitment to our furry friends, and will improve the lives of countless animals, reminding us all of the power of compassion, connection, and care."
Meghan has adopted some rescue dogs over the years including Guy, a beagle, and a black Labrador called Pula. Mr Juste and his fiance Rob helped care for Guy when Meghan moved to the UK and the dog was recovering from an accident. She wrote in 2022 that she was left 'heartbroken' by Mr Juste's death. She said: "We shared, amongst many things, a commitment to animal welfare, and a deep love of rescue dogs.
The new wing was opened in honour of Oli Juste (centre) (Channel 4)"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. They loved him as though he was their own."
Mayhew Chief Executive Sherine Wheeler said: "We are so delighted to celebrate and honour Oli’s life in this way, we are so grateful for his friendship and contribution to Mayhew. He combined his expertise as a renowned dog trainer with a passion for animal welfare to make a huge difference for rescue dogs.
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