Ahead of her first birthday as a royal on Saturday 4 August, Meghan Markle has just received her first birthday present.
Gifted to her by PETA, the animal rights activist group has sent the Duchess of Sussex a vegan leather handbag from sustainable brand Alexandra K.
PETA Director Elisa Allen explains via a press release: ‘This bag suits Meghan Markle's fashion sensibility and animal-friendly attitudes to a T.
‘PETA hopes the gift will encourage the royal family and its fans alike to embrace compassionate brands like Alexandra K and to steer clear of cruelly obtained animal skins.’
The choice of handbag is perfect for Markle, who has previously opened up about her majority vegan diet.
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In an interview with Best Health in 2015, the royal revealed: ‘I try to eat vegan during the week and then have a little bit more flexibility with what I dig into on the weekends.
‘But at the same time, it's all about balance. Because I work out the way I do, I don't ever want to feel deprived. I feel that the second you do that is when you start to binge on things. It's not a diet; it's lifestyle eating.’
The former Suits actress is also a huge animal lover and has two adopted dogs from her time living in Toronto, Canada - Guy and Bogart.
Bogart, who was Markle’s first dog, came into her life thanks a chance encounter with Ellen DeGeneres.
During a visit to a rescue shelter in Los Angeles during a break from filming Suits, Markle spotted the pup at the same time DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi were there.
‘Now, I don’t know her, but Ellen goes “Is that your dog?” And I said, “No,” and she’s like, “You have to take that dog.” And I said, “Well, I’m deciding.” And she’s like, “Rescue the dog!”’ Markle recalled to Best Health.
The rights group previously gifted the Duchess of Cambridge a vegan wool coat one year and sent Prime Minister Theresa May some faux-leather shoes.
Meghan will be spending her 37th birthday with her husband Prince Harry at the wedding of his close friend Charlie van Straubenzee. It's even rumoured Kate Middleton is flying back to the UK following a family holiday in Mustique for the occasion.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
