Meghan Markle has been secretly working with her patronage Mayhew as it 'desperately' struggles with funding amid the coronavirus crisis, the London animal charity reveals

• Meghan Markle, 38, has been secretly working with an animal welfare charity 
• Mayhew, which is one of the royal's patronages, is struggling in the pandemic
• Charity's media officer charity said Duchess has 'been in touch' during the crisis 
• Meghan permitted to keep patronages, despite stepping back from royal duty  
• Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

The Duchess of Sussex has been secretly working with her patronage Mayhew as it 'desperately' struggles with funding amid the coronavirus crisis, the London animal charity has revealed. 

Meghan Markle, 38, who is currently living in Tyler Perry's $18 million mansion in Beverly Hills having stepped back from royal duty, has been 'in touch' with her patronage the Mayhew throughout the crisis, according to the charity's media officer.

Sarah Hastelow told Newsweek she couldn't give details of the contact, but explained: 'She's been such a champion of animals and animal welfare. It's always been a passion of hers.'   

The charity's website details that it 'desperately needs extra funds' to buy supplies to be able to continue it's work with animals.   

Sarah added that the royal had 'been in touch' during the period, but added that she 'couldn't say much more than that.'  

Meanwhile a source from the Sussexes' team explained: 'The Duchess is in touch and working with Mayhew at this time.'⁣ 

The went on to add that the organisation was 'more than a classic animal charity' and that it was 'supporting so many other people in the community' during the pandemic.  

The charity's website makes the stakes clear with an 'urgent care package appeal' message on its homepage.

It says: 'We desperately need extra funds to buy supplies of food, litter, flea and worm treatment as our suppliers are running low.'  

It also details how it has been bombarded with calls from people in the local community who are 'desperately in need of help' due to 'isolation or vulnerability.' 

The charity is also unusual in that it helps homeless and other vulnerable people keep pets in the community. 

During the pandemic, it has had fundraising events cancelled, seeing a drop in donations, but requires £6,000 a day to  keep running. 

Meghan, an advocate of adopting rescue dogs, chose animal welfare charity Mayhew as one of her first patronages.  

She previously visited the shelter in January 2019, and was introduced to Maggie, a one-year-old Jack Russell who was up for adoption on the charity's website.

The duchess picked up Maggie when she saw her shivering, and clutched her to her chest as she chatted to Mayhew staff, who told her about the charity's projects in India and Afghanistan.

And in January, the royal made a surprise visit to the charity in one of her last official outings in the UK before she jetted back to Canada to be with Archie. 

Despite stepping back from royal duties alongside Prince Harry, 35, last month, Meghan has been permitted to maintain her patronages.  

Mayhew was founded in 1886 and today sees itself as an animal welfare social worker, keeping cats and dogs, whether family pets or companions for the homeless, safe and well alongside their owners, and supporting communities.

It has a pet refuge service, provides vet services for vulnerable owners, and has a team of animal welfare officers who work with local residents helping local communities.