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Meghan Markle 'heartbroken' after sudden death of friend: 'Never be forgotten'

Meghan Markle has shared she is "heartbroken" following the shock death of a friend, who she says "will never be forgotten".

The Duchess of Sussex wrote an open letter on the website for Mayhew, an animal welfare charity that Meghan supported as a royal patron in 2019.

Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle has issued a statement following the shock death of a friend, writing that they 'will never be forgotten'. Photo: Getty

Meghan shared in her letter that she had been introduced to the charity by fellow animal lover Oli Juste, who "tragically and very suddenly passed away" in January.

She 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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"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 shared that Oli "helped care" for her rescue dog Guy when she moved to the UK to be with Prince Harry.

"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," she said. "They loved him as though he was their own."

While Meghan and Harry have stepped back from their roles as working royals, she has continued supporting Mayhew.

Mayhew announced on Wednesday that Meghan is no longer a patron of the organisation: "Our Royal Patronage with The Duchess of Sussex came to an end at the beginning of the year.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
Mayhew announced Meghan is no longer a patron of the organisation but said it had been a 'privilege' working with her. Photo: Getty

"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."

"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."

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