Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has publicly shown her support and delight for her long-time friend, Kelly McKee Zajfen, following Kelly’s announcement that she is expecting a baby boy in the spring (Royal Insider).¹ This news brings a ray of hope to the family, three years after the tragic and sudden death of Kelly’s young son.²

Kelly McKee Zajfen, a former model and co-founder of the non-profit Alliance of Moms, made the emotional announcement on her Instagram account.³ The Duchess of Sussex, who has two children—Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet—with Prince Harry, immediately showed her support by 'liking' the post, a simple yet powerful gesture that reflects their deep and enduring friendship (People).⁴ Meghan recently displayed similar support for another friend, businesswoman Jamie Kern Lima, who is also expecting her third child (The News International).⁵

A Message of Love and Resilience

Kelly McKee Zajfen, 45, who is also a heart ambassador for Children's Hospital Los Angeles (The Independent), shared a poignant photograph of herself cradling her growing baby bump.⁶ The picture was taken by her daughter, Lily (Entertainment Daily).⁷

The accompanying caption spoke movingly about finding joy amidst profound grief, referencing the passing of her nine-year-old son, George, who died in July 2022 after contracting COVID-19 and viral meningitis (The Mirror).⁸

"Sometimes… just sometimes… when you let light in through the broken pieces of your heart, love grows. 🌱 Baby boy coming this Spring. 💐 The path here wasn’t easy, and yet love kept showing up in the smallest signs, the quietest moments, the light that refused to fade. This little soul is already so loved, a reminder that joy and grief can exist together… and that hope has a way of finding us again,” Kelly wrote (People).

Meghan’s Guiding Light in Grief

The Duchess's connection to Kelly is not a recent development.⁹ Kelly has previously confirmed that her friendship with Meghan spans almost 20 years; Meghan even attended Kelly's wedding 15 years ago (The Independent).¹⁰ Kelly has consistently praised the Duchess as "the most amazing, nurturing, fun, loving human" and a vital pillar of strength during her bereavement (People).¹¹

The commitment of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to supporting the Zajfen family through their grief has been highly visible.¹² They have supported Kelly’s non-profit work with Alliance of Moms, an organization dedicated to supporting pregnant and parenting teenagers in the foster care system, and in 2024, Meghan joined her friend in modelling "Love Like a Mother" T-shirts to promote the cause (Meghan's Fashion).¹³

Moreover, the couple has shown immense personal loyalty to Kelly. Following George’s death, Meghan and Harry made a $5,000 donation to a GoFundMe page set up in George’s honour, made in the names of their own children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet (People).¹⁴

Most recently, in October, Meghan and Prince Harry attended the George Zajfen Tennis Tournament in Los Angeles, an event held in George’s memory to benefit the Alliance for Children’s Rights (Royal Insider).¹⁵ Following the event, Kelly publicly thanked the couple, writing:

“Meg & H, you continue to amaze me with your commitment to community and your fierce loyalty and love in friendship. I’m always in awe of your ability to show up for others, for this cause, and for our family. Thank you for holding Georgie in your hearts and helping us carry his light forward” (Royal Insider).

The news of the forthcoming baby boy, therefore, represents a personal victory for the Zajfen family and is being celebrated by their close-knit circle, underscoring the vital role of steadfast friendship and community support in overcoming loss (The Independent).¹⁶

---