BRAVE MAG

Kelly McKee Zajfen, a close friend of Meghan Markle, welcomed a baby boy

NEED TO KNOW

• The Alliance of Moms co-founder announced the news on Instagram

• In 2022, McKee Zajfen and her husband, Julian, lost their son, George, to COVID and viral meningitis
  

Kelly McKee Zajfenis celebrating the arrival of the newest member of her family.

TheAlliance of Momsco-founder, who is a close friend ofMeghan Markle, announced that she had welcomed a baby boy viaInstagramon Thursday, March 26. The baby's arrival came just one day after her own birthday on March 25.

"The best birthday gift ever. 🎉 Happiest birthday to you sweet Jack Oliver Zajfen," she wrote below the carousel of photos taken at the hospital.

"(Jack: In honor of my Gandpa. Oliver: in honor of our Georgie. Now they share the same middle name)," she continued, explaining her new baby's name.

"This family of 5 is madly in love. Full of all the emotions and taking it all in. Thank you all for being apart of this journey and loving our family. I have felt carried and loved so very much and that's what Community is all about. ❤️‍🩹," McKee Zajfen wrote, and joked, "Get ready for a lot of baby content 🙃💝"

The snaps included a photo of Georgie's twin sister, Lily, now 13, holding her little brother.

The comments section of her post was flooded with well-wishes, including congratulations from the Duchess of Sussex's friend and makeup artist, Daniel Martin, the Highbrow Hippie haircare brand and ateliercreditedfor Meghan and McKee Zajfen's tresses at a recent event, Amanda Kloots and more friends.

The news comes four years after McKee Zajfen and her husband, Julian,lost their son Georgeto COVID-19 and viral meningitis at age 9.

McKee Zajfenannounced her pregnancyin November 2025. In an Instagram post at the time, she wrote, "Sometimes… just sometimes… when you let light in through the broken pieces of your heart, love grows. 🌱 Baby boy coming this Spring. 💐"

Advertisement

She added, "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."

In April 2024, McKee Zajfen wrote apersonal essay for PEOPLE, opening up about George's death and sharing how friends like Meghan had helped her through it.

"Please allow others to show up for you in whatever way they can," she wrote. "I have learned to delegate my grief. I know certain people who can hold space and support in the heavier days. Or who I can share in the ridiculous moments that come."

"I have learned that not one single human can carry it all for us, so allowing others in is imperative," she continued. "Try not to expect people to understand it all. Even the people who share a similar loss. Not everyone will understand. That is the lonely part, I am afraid. So be brave in sharing."

McKee Zajfen and Meghan, 44, recently stepped out together to attendthe Alliance for Children's Rights 34th Annual Champions for Children eventin Beverly Hills, California, just last week on March 19.

There, Meghan presented her friend with the Francis M. Wheat Community Service Award, recognizing her commitment to the Los Angeles community as the co-founder of the Alliance of Moms and board member of the Alliance for Children's Rights.

McKee Zafjen and Meghan have been friends for almost 20 years. In 2024, Meghan andPrince Harryattendedthe George Zajfen Tennis Tournament in Los Angeles, an event that honored McKee Zafjen's late son and benefited the Alliance for Children's Rights. The couple also donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe set up in George's honor in the names of their two children,Prince ArchieandPrincess Lilibet.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

After the tennis tournament, McKee Zajfenposted a photo with Meghan and Harry on Instagramand praised them with a caption that said, "Harry and Meghan, you have been such a guiding light for our family, not just in the way you have shown up in friendship but how you have shown up through the incredible work The Archewell Foundation does every day. I'm in awe of your commitment to community and to friendship."

Read the original article onPeople

Life behind palace walls may appear glamorous from the outside. However, former royal staff say the reality can be far more complex. New accounts from past employees are offering a glimpse into the working dynamics within Buckingham Palace, including their experiences with different members of the royal family. While some senior royals are described as respectful, others are alleged to have been more difficult to work with. Among them,ex-Prince Andrewhas drawn particularcriticismfrom former insiders.

Ex-Prince Andrew was 'entitled' and not easy to work for, recalls former staff member

Several former Buckingham Palace staff members have come forward with claims about their experiences working with ex-Prince Andrew. They describe him as difficult and, at times, challenging to deal with. These accounts, reported inThe i Paper, are based on personal recollections and have not been independently verified.

Dickie Arbiter, who previously served as press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, claimed that Andrew came across as "arrogant and entitled" during his time working within the royal household. He contrasted this with his experience working with other senior royals, noting that King Charles was "fair" and committed to his duties. Arbiter suggested that, despite the prestige of palace life, professionalism and discipline were expected at all levels.

Advertisement

Similar sentiments were shared by Dai Davies, a former head of Scotland Yard's Royal Protection Command. Davies alleged that Andrew could be "rude and dismissive" in professional interactions. Recalling one incident, he claimed the prince insisted on escalating a matter to a superior, despite Davies being in charge at the time. "I found him boorish and ignorant," Davies said. He added that his experiences with other royals were largely respectful and courteous.

Other former staff members offered a broader look at palace life, describing it as both "surreal" and rewarding. Martin Higgins, a former butler, spoke positively about his time working for the royal family. According to his account, there was a sense of "camaraderie among staff" and mutual respect with senior members. He recalled that while salaries were modest, the experience itself was often seen as "a dream come true."

Still, the accounts regarding Andrew have contributed to a wider conversation about internal dynamics within the monarchy. Royal commentator Robert Jobson suggested there may be "a sense of relief" among staff following the reduction of Andrew's official role.

The postWorking for 'Arrogant' Ex-Prince Andrew Was Difficult, Says Ex-Staffappeared first onReality Tea.

Prince William visited the Mercian Regiment on March 26, which he serves as Colonel-in-Chief.

The Gist

• Donning camouflage, the Prince of Wales joked that he might shave his beard into a moustache after being inspired by the facial hair of some of the soldiers.

• One person that might be thrilled about the change? Princess Charlotte, whom William said was decidedly not a fan of the beard when it debuted back in 2024.

While at his latest royal engagement,Prince Williamteased a change to his appearance—and it's one that his daughterPrincess Charlottemight be happy about.

On March 26, the Prince of Wales visited the Mercian Regiment—which the future king serves as Colonel-in-Chief—at a military base in Wiltshire, mingling with both soldiers and their families alike. William has sported a beard since 2024, but, after seeming impressed by the moustaches worn by members of the regiment, he hinted that he might follow suit.

PerHello!, William stroked his beard and quipped, "I might end up taking mine off and leaving a 'tache," adding that moustaches were a style "creeping in now." According to the outlet, the British Army relaxed its rules around facial hair in 2024, the same year that William started growing his beard out. Charlotte, then 9 years old, was admittedlynota fan of her dad's new look.

"Well, Charlotte didn't like it the first time," William said of his beard in November 2024. "I got floods of tears the first time I grew a beard, so I had to shave it off, and then I grew it back."

Advertisement

"I thought, 'Hang on a second,' and I convinced her it was going to be okay,"William added at the time.

The style has stuck around since; prior to his 2024 debut of the beard, William hadn't had one since 2008, when he shaved it off reportedly on the request of his grandmotherQueen Elizabeth, who "requested he remove it to comply with military guidelines," according toHello!. William served over seven years in the British Armed Forces—from 2006 to 2013—and ended his military career as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot, perThe Sun.

Okay, so Charlotte isn't a fan of the beard (though maybe she's come around to it by now), but one person who likely is? William's wife,Kate Middleton. According to Jason Knauf, who previously served as a royal aide to the Prince and Princess of Wales and now serves as CEO for William's Earthshot Prize, when it comes to Kate and William's facial hair, "If she didn't like it, it wouldn't be there, I could tell you that."

Speaking to60 Minutes Australiain February 2025, Knauf added of William's beard, "I love it. I think it's great. But I've talked to him about it—or tried to talk to him about it. He's like, 'It's here. I have a beard. No further conversation.'"

Read the original article onInStyle