Meghan Markle’s best friend has shared a gushing post about her ‘nurturing’ and ‘loving’ pal – just days after the Duchess’s ‘number one fan’ turned against her.
Kelly McKee Zajfen, who has been friends with the Duchess of Sussex for more than 20 years and lives close by in California, was speaking in an Instagram Q&A session with her followers last night.
The former model, who originally met Meghan, 44, through her ex-husband Trevor Engelson, was asked about her favourite accounts to follow.
In position three, she listed the Duchess’s personal account, @meghan, adding that she is ‘endlessly inspired by her’.
A second question read: ‘How did you meet Meghan M?! Love seeing you two on here and the joy you bring out in each other.’
Kelly shared a sweet response and highlighted their close friendship over many years, writing: ‘Ahh thank you! I’ve actually known her for almost 20 years? She even came to my wedding (15 years ago) and she’s been the most amazing, nurturing, fun, loving human.
‘She’s been by my side especially since Georgie died and I cherish our friendship very much.’
Meghan has long supported her friend Kelly, who was bereaved in 2022 when her son George died suddenly at the age of nine after contracting a viral illness.
Meghan Markle’s best friend Kelly McKee Zajfen has shared a gushing post about her ‘nurturing’ and ‘loving’ pal (pictured at the Children’s Hospital LA Gala in October last year)
In the years since George’s tragic death, Meghan and Harry have attended several of Kelly’s charity events and initiatives in memory of the nine-year-old.
These included a charity tennis tournament last year in honour of George, which also took place around Prince Harry’s 40th birthday.
Kelly’s effusive praise of her close friend will come as much-needed support for the Duchess, just days after one of the most prominent ‘Sussex Squad’ (the term given to Meghan and Harry’s supporters) turned against her.
Stassi Schroeder an American TV personality and star of Vanderpump Rules, recently resigned from her position as Meghan’s ‘number one fan’ on her podcast after failing to receive a PR package from Meghan’s lifestyle brand – and even went to the lengths of unfollowing the duchess on Instagram.
When Meghan’s Netflix show, With Love Meghan, met a slew of negative reviews from critics, Stassi defended it, writing on Instagram, ‘Anyone complaining about this like they’re expecting this to be something they can relate to, that’s not the point,’ she said via Us.
‘I love this,’ the television personality added. ‘This is something I absolutely cannot f****** relate to.’
However, the reality TV star, podcaster, and author, 37, from Louisiana, has done a U-turn this month and declared to no longer support Meghan after she was glossed over on As Ever’s PR list.
Talking on podcast The One Where Stassi Is Still Drunk w/ Taylor Strecker, released September 10, Stassi explained how she was left off the list for receiving PR gifts from Meghan’s lifestyle brand, while other influencers in her circle managed to get their hands on the mailer.
Kelly McKee Zajfen, who has been friends with the Duchess of Sussex for more than 20 years and lives close by in Montecito, California , was speaking in an Instagram Q&A session with her followers last night
She also listed Meghan’s accounts as one of her favourites to follow on Instagram, saying she is ‘endlessly inspired by her’
Stassi said, ‘I literally defended her when no one else did.’ She continued, ‘I think that she is stuck in 2017 and she just thinks I’m a lowly reality TV person, and I am furious, and this is the last straw.
‘I’m not watching her show anymore, I’m not going to talk about her anymore. I’m going to unfollow her right now.’
Discussing the ordeal, her co-host, Taylor Strecker, added, ‘You have to love and respect, you have to appreciate your fans, and this is a bold example of a lack of fan appreciation.’
Despite reportedly playing an ‘influential’ role in Megxit, Meghan distanced herself from the mother-of-three after she became embroiled in a race row in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.
Now, Jessica, who was the first friend Meghan called from Kensington Palace when Harry proposed, is rumoured to potentially be planning a tell-all book about her former best friend, with an advance of more than $1million apparently being dangled by publishers.
Other pals with whom Meghan has reportedly parted ways include former Made In Chelsea star Millie Macintosh, Priyanka Chopra and Violet von Westenholz.
Kelly, meanwhile who has been a close friend and supporter of the former royal for a number of years, even appeared in the first season of Meghan’s Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, released in March.
Kelly launched Alliance of Moms, which describes itself as ‘a membership group that supports the work of the Alliance for Children’s Rights’, 13-year ago when she was pregnant with twins.
Vanderpump Rules star Stassi Schroeder (pictured), who previously described herself as Meghan’s ‘number one fan’ hit unfollow on the duchess’s Instagram account
The membership scheme purportedly supports pregnant and parenting youth in LA’s foster system, and has previously designed merchandise for Mother’s Day.
Last year, the company designed shirts that had ‘Love Like a Mother emblazoned’ on the front.
The Duchess showed her support for the brand, with a candid photo showing her sporting the fit alongside her friend, Kelly and another of their friends, Abigail Spencer.
Speaking to People Magazine, Kelly gushed over Meghan’s contribution to the growth of the charity, commending her for always showing up ‘with no hesitation’.
She told the publication: ‘It’s just amazing always having people around who want to use their voices and give back to the community and always show up and always say yes.’
‘But also just for me personally, it’s a reminder and reflection of who they are in general. When you say, Hey, will you wear this? And they say yes right away with no hesitation because they know the importance of what this is.’
Harry and Meghan donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe fundraiser in the names of their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet after the Zajfen family lost George.
The two have been thick as thieves for several years, attending charity events together, as well as enjoying downtime.
Over the weekend, Meghan gave fans a rare glimpse inside the $14million mansion she shares with Prince Harry and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in California.
Kelly and Meghan first met through the Duchess’ ex-husband, Trevor Engelson, who is friends with the former model’s entertainment lawyer husband.
The Duchess of Sussex took to her Instagram account on Friday to show off what appeared to be her cosy living room in her Montecito home.
Sharing a clip on her Stories with her 4.2 million followers, the mother-of-two showcased an elegant floral arrangement and her beagle, Mia, sleeping on a stunning cream armchair and matching cushioned footstool.
The eye-catching flowers were placed in a white stone vase, embellished with the logo from Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever.
However, PEOPLE magazine revealed that the product is a one-of-a-kind piece, created for the set of the Duchess’s Netflix show ‘With Love, Meghan’ – and the former actress has no official new homeware collection planned.
So far, Meghan’s brand has released jams, wines, teas and other food items, but Prince Harry’s wife has hinted in the past that she could expand her company into home goods and fashion, for instance.
