Meghan Markle is looking back at 2020. As patron of the Mayhew animal charity [1], the Duchess of Sussex penned a foreword for their annual review [2], highlighting the highs and lows of the past year. "Over the last year, each of us have felt the profound effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic," Meghan began. "Be it the loss of a loved one, the health challenges far too many faced, or the disproportionate life changes everyone has experienced, it has been an overwhelming process of grief, growth, and also of gratitude."
"When I reflect on 2020, I always come back to the importance of community and connection."
Meghan thanked "every animal lover" across the world who has supported Mayhew over the last year, noting that their help has been vital to continue providing support to "cats and dogs, and the communities around them." "When I reflect on 2020, I always come back to the importance of community and connection," Meghan wrote. "We may have been forced apart, but we found new ways to be close and to support each other through this shared crisis. For many of us, this was made all the easier with our pets by our side. Mayhew — and thousands of small, community organisations like them — will continue to listen, adapt their services, and provide the resources that people and pets need to stay together and persevere through hardships."
She continued, "As we collectively build to the future, my sincere hope is that we do so with ongoing support and appreciation for organisations like Mayhew, who continue their vital work in days of crisis and in days of calm. Their commitment to the cause of animal welfare is steadfast and their effect on our community wellbeing is self-evident."
Meghan, who recently gave birth to daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor [4], became a patron of Mayhew [5] back in 2019. Even though she is no longer a senior member of the British royal family, Meghan remains committed to her work with the animal charity. You can read Meghan's forward in full on the Mayhew website.