Meghan Markle Speaks Out on the 'Importance of Community and Connection,' Reflecting on 2020

The Duchess of Sussex provided the foreword for the charity Mayhew's annual report, sharing about the importance of community emphasized throughout the difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meghan Markle looked back at the rollercoaster ride that was 2020 during the foreword she penned for the animal welfare charity Mayhew's annual report.

Markle shared that the pets in her household allowed her to better manage the strain and isolation that came with the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasized the importance of community.

ROYAL FOREWORD

As Mayhew's patron, the Duchess of Sussex has been working alongside the charity and aiding them in their work with animals throughout the pandemic.

She said one thing that stood out from the previous year filled with hardship and isolation is the continual need for community, often provided by pets in households. She wrote:

“When I reflect on 2020, I always come back to the importance of community and connection... For many of us, this was made all the easier with our pets by our side. "

SINCE 2019

Markle has been working with the British charity since 2019 and although she has left her work as a senior member of the royal family behind, she continues her work with Mayhew.

Hence, this isn't the first foreword that the royal has written for Mayhew as she also wrote it for them in 2019 when she came on board two years ago. In her first piece, she wrote about the importance of adoption.

LOVE OF DOGS

"The Bench" author's love for furry friends stretches further than her involvement in the charity. In 2019, she participated in a hands-on experience with Mayhew where she went to visit the pups.

The Sussexes were determined to continue their charitable work from the USA.

Markle stepped out while she was pregnant with her firstborn to pay a visit to the dogs at various facilities that form part of the Mayhew program. The mom-to-be wasn't scared to get some cuddles in with the cute four-legged animals.

CHARITABLE ROYALS

While charity work has always been a part of the working royals' lives, Markle and Prince Harry seemed to take their philanthropic duties very seriously. They invested their energy into a string of other charities.

The couple even ensured that their wedding day was about giving back as they selected seven charities that their guests could donate to as a wedding gift to them.

Despite losing their patron positions at various charities they were involved with while still in the U.K., the Sussexes were determined to continue their charitable work from the USA.

They launched a foundation, Archewell, which they use to carry out their good work in the communities. As described on the website, the foundation works to "drive systematic cultural change across all communities."