Meghan Markle gave her followers an intimate insight into her and Prince Harry‘s new life on British soil yesterday – including new details about her beloved pets.
The Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram to share a 34-second montage which included footage of her young children making the most of autumn in the UK after relocating from California.
But eagle-eyed royal fans were also particularly pleased to spot that at least one of the Sussexes’ precious dogs had also made the move across the pond – after speculation that the couple could be forced to leave their pets behind.
In the new footage shared by Meghan, 45, the family’s labrador, Pula, bounded down a wooded path lined with ferns and trees, while also watching on in excitement from the banks as Harry, Archie, seven, and five-year-old Lilibet sat in a rowing boat.
Archie is heard saying, ‘I got this’ in a distinctly American accent as fish writhe around in the water, while Harry, 41, fixes up a hook on a fishing rod.
The montage included one of the children’s wellies splashing in a puddle, while Harry and Meghan were also seen walking hand in hand down a country lane before the Duchess turned to the camera to say: ‘Come on, you – come on!’
It comes after questions were raised over whether Pula, alongside the couple’s rescue beagle Mamma Mia, would be joining the Sussexes as they traded California for the Cotswolds last month.
While Meghan’s video confirms that Pula has joined the family in the UK, it is unclear whether Mamma Mia has also made the trip across the pond – though it seems highly likely he will have joined the Sussexes in their new venture.
When making the transatlantic move from Toronto to London in 2017, the former Suits actress had to make the heartbreaking decision to leave behind her labrador-shepherd cross Bogart, as the pet was thought to be too old to fly overseas.
Meghan Markle gave her followers an intimate insight into her and Prince Harry’s new life on British soil yesterday – including new details about her beloved labrador Pula
Eagle-eyed royal fans were also particularly pleased to spot that at least one of the Sussexes’ precious dogs had also made the move across the pond
The Prince’s communication secretary at the time said: ‘Bogart is now living with friends.’
The Palace refused to speculate as to why Bogart was not brought to the UK and added the decision ‘would have lots of complexity to it’ while confirming Meghan remains ‘fond of her dogs’.
Meghan’s beloved beagle Guy, who had been with the Duchess for ten years, passed away last January – and a video tribute shared by Meghan announcing the news to her fans showed just how ingrained the dogs are within family life.
Admitting she had cried ‘too many tears to count’, the mother-of-two thanked her pet for years of ‘unconditional love’, while photos showed Guy cuddling up with Meghan in bed, enjoying hugs with Harry and keeping the Duchess company as she cooked.
In other shots, little Archie, now seven, could even be heard speaking to Guy. The then five-year-old said ‘he might fall’ as the dog joined him and his mother in the backseat of a car that Harry was driving.
To be able to come to the UK, Guy had to be subjected to several vaccinations and blood tests, as well as being microchipped.
Speaking in the couple’s first interview following their engagement, Meghan told the BBC’s Mishal Husain: ‘I have two dogs that I’ve had for quite a long time, both my rescue pups.
‘And one is now staying with very close friends and my other little guy is, yes he’s in the UK, he’s been here for a while. I think he’s doing just fine.’
As well as vaccinations and microchips, there is also a very involved deworming process owners hoping to relocate their pets from the US to the UK must follow.
Crate requirements for transport are equally strict, and so is documentation.
When making the transatlantic move from Toronto to London in 2017, Meghan – then Harry’s fiancée – had to make the heartbreaking decision to leave behind her Labrador-shepherd cross Bogart (pictured with Guy and Bogart)
It comes after questions were raised over whether Pula (pictured), alongside the couples rescue beagle Mamma Mia, would be joining the royal couple in the Cotswolds
Harry and Meghan pictured with Pula, Mamma Mia and Guy. The royal couple adopted Pula after their wedding in 2018, while rescue beagle Mamma Mia joined them in 2022
Meghan’s new video, which confirms that Pula, which means rain in Botswana, has arrived in the UK, comes after the family moved to their new home in the Cotswolds at the end of August.
The Sussexes will keep their mansion in Montecito, California, and also own a holiday home in Portugal.
They have recently said they are ‘happy to be back’ in the UK, and the children have started at school already.
This is in spite of their row with Buckingham Palace over Uganda’s withdrawal from Prince Harry’s Invictus Games – a sporting event founded by the Duke for wounded military veterans.
Insiders close to the couple said Uganda’s exit was a ‘direct result’ of a letter written by King Charles, which insisted they are ‘private citizens’, not working royals.
Charles’s letter – sent to senior government officials, military leaders, Lord Lieutenants and the couple’s team – made it clear that, while the family was back in the country, they were not back in the Firm.
After the King’s announcement, Uganda’s chief of defence and son of the president, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, appeared to want to distance himself from Harry’s project, suggesting he did not want to be associated with this ‘Harry-Meghan nonsense’.
He said on X earlier this week: ‘In order not to be construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere, Uganda hereby withdraws from the Invictus Games.’
The Sussexes said they were ‘surprised’ to have received the letter from the King following rumours they might have had a ‘half in, half out’ arrangement on their return. But the letter appears to have put an end to all hope of this idea.
Insiders close to the couple said that the ‘only people suffering’ as a result of the monarch’s letter are the Ugandan competitors who were set to take part in the upcoming games.
‘They made it very clear that the reason they pulled out was a direct result of perceived guidance from the Lord Chamberlain,’ they told People magazine, which is widely considered the Sussexes’ preferred publication in the US.
Meghan and Harry left the UK six years ago to enjoy personal and financial freedom in the US before moving back just over a fortnight ago.
A bitter argument has existed between the Sussexes and the royals back home since they left, after it was decided that they would not be allowed to have taxpayer-funded police security when visiting the UK, as they were no longer working royals.
The Duke of Sussex has reportedly ‘privately pleaded’ with Shabana Mahmood for a decision on whether or not he is getting funding for security for his family.
Harry said last year in a BBC interview that he was ready to ‘reconcile’ with his family and that the issue of police protection was the last remaining ‘sticking point’ in the feud.
