Meghan Markle Enjoys Cozy Summer Afternoon With an Unexpected Family Member in New Photo
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have one sweet thing in common with their estranged family in the UK: their love for dogs. The couple has had a number of pet pooches who have become an integral part of their family life in Montecito. Whether they're enjoying a lazy summer afternoon outside or harvesting homegrown veggies in their backyard, they always have time for their dogs. One of them recently featured on Markle’s Instagram, as she sat down for a cup of tea.
On the official Instagram handle of her lifestyle brand, As Ever, previously known as American Riviera Orchard, the Duchess of Sussex dropped a new cozy picture from a day in her life in California. It featured an unexpected family member: her pet dog Mia. In the picture, the 43-year-old was seen sipping tea and giving Mia belly rubs while sporting a comfortable cream and white ensemble. Sharing the picture, she wrote, “Summer afternoons, mint tea, and the sweetest company (Hi, Mia!).” This was not Mia's first time appearing on Markle's Gram. She made several cameos in videos of Markle working on her vegetable garden. The couple adopted the beagle, Mamma Mia, in 2022, rescued from a breeding and research lab by the Beagle Freedom Project in Virginia. Markle wanted to provide an older dog with a home, which is how she found Mia.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Duchess personally reached out to the animal rights attorney who runs the project, Shannon Keith. After a 30-minute-long phone call, Keith assumed it was actress Meghan Fox who had shown interest in adopting a dog. However, it later turned out it was Markle. Explaining the former actress’s enthusiasm, Keith revealed, “The Duchess is holding Mia and was like, ‘We’re adopting her.’ She was like, ‘No, we don’t want a Christmas puppy… We want ones we can help who are older.’” This was because Markle knew puppies usually find homes more easily than older dogs. Mia is the third dog that they welcomed after their black lab, Pula, and Markle's previously rescued beagle, Guy, who passed away earlier this year.
Coming back to the new cozy picture, according to People Magazine, the tea featured in the aesthetic snap was the Duchess's Herbal Peppermint Tea, one of the products from her brand. The official website has described the product as "a refreshing tea of organic peppermint leaves, to be enjoyed day or night." So far, Markle, who launched the brand in April, has had two successful drops of her exclusive line of products. While the first one was sold out in less than an hour, the second drop with two new products also did not take much time either. The brand’s new Napa Valley Rosé was also quickly purchased by fans who were eagerly waiting to try on Markle’s choice.