MEGHAN Markle has paid tribute to her ‘beloved’ dog trainer pal Oli Juste as she opened a new wing of a London animal charity.
Meghan sent a personal video message in memory of the animal behaviourist to mark the naming of a new rescue wing in his honour.
The recording of the Duchess of Sussex 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 on Wednesday.
In January 2022, Oli d!ed suddenly, and Mayhew said a “generous” donation made by his “dear friend” Meghan through her Archewell Foundation, to help continue his legacy, had made the new refurbished kennels possible.
In her message, the duchess said : “A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful team at Mayhew who have worked tirelessly to bring this dream to life.
“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’s sussex.com website recounted the duchess’ bond with Oli, saying: “They shared many things throughout their friendship, among which was a deep commitment to animal welfare and a love of rescue dogs.”
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.”
The duchess has adopted a number of rescue dogs over the years including a Guy, a beagle, and a black Labrador called Pula.
Oli and his fiance Rob helped care for Guy when Meghan moved to the UK and the dog was recovering from an acc!dent.
Meghan wrote that she was left “heartbroken” by Oli’s d_eath.