Months ago, Queen Elizabeth “forced” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to give up their royal patronages. It was one of several punishments the Firm inflicted on Harry and Meghan for daring to live a life which is happy, free and rich. Plus they have beach access. Anyway, what was funny about the “make them give up their patronages” thing is that none of Harry and Meghan’s patronages wanted to say goodbye to them. H&M were great for business, and so the “private” UK charities simply kept them on. There was no way for Liz to force a private charity to shove Harry and Meghan out. Which is why Meghan is still the royal patron of Mayhew, the animal welfare charity in the UK. Mayhew loves Meghan. Mayhew asked Meghan to write the foreword to their annual review, and here it is:
“Over the last year, each of us have felt the profound effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic. 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. I have heard from so many of you about the impact of having a pet with you at home during the isolation of lockdown; you have mentioned the therapeutic effect of having your animal by your side and the solace and comfort you found in their company. This effect is something Mayhew strives to deliver day in and day out to people throughout the UK and beyond.
“I want to thank every animal lover across London, the UK and the world who has supported Mayhew during the past year. Your help has meant that, despite the hardship, Mayhew has been able to continue providing vital support to cats and dogs, and the communities around them. I have been proud to witness Mayhew adapting to the moment – through virtual rehoming, TheraPaws visits over Zoom and delivering care packages to animals and pet owners in need. The organization has rescued and rehabilitated cats and dogs in critical situations and, of course, delivered vital animal health services overseas in countries also gripped by the pandemic.
“When I reflect on 2020, I always come back to the importance of community and connection. 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 organizations 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. As we collectively build to the future, my sincere hope is that we do so with ongoing support and appreciation for organizations 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.”
[From Mayhew]
I love that she wrote about the tangible programs Mayhew offers as well as writing about the joy and comfort animals have given people last year. People spent so much time with their pets in 2020! Dogs had maybe the best year ever, spending so much time with their humans. I bet Mayhew was swamped with people wanting to adopt pets, like every other shelter. Anyway, this is just a reminder that Meghan still has patronages in the UK. So if she ever does return to Salty White Folk Isle, it will be because she wants to give some attention to those patronages.
— Mayhew 🐶🐱 (@themayhew) June 17, 2021
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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