Meghan Markle spotted in promotional hat for charity tennis tournament in honour of her friend Kelly McKee Zajfen’s son who died aged 9 last year

Meghan Markle paid a sweet tribute to her friend’s son who died aged nine by wearing a promotional hat for a tennis tournament played in his honour.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, stepped out in the faded green cap in Santa Barbara as well as an array of casual luxury, on Monday.

Among the simple athleisure look was a cap from the George Zajfen Tournament.

The tournament, helps protect the rights of children, young adults, and families impacted by child welfare systems, and is played in honour of George Zajfen, who died aged nine last year.

Meghan has been a long-term friend of George’s mother  Kelly McKee Zajfen, who has previously described the Duchess as  an ‘incredible friend and mother”.

The Duchess of Sussex , 42, stepped out in the faded green cap in Santa Barbara as well as an array of casual luxury, on Monday. It can now be revealed the cap is a tribute to the late son of Meghan’s friend Kelly McKee Zajfen

The cap is a promotional item from a tennis game in honour of George Zajfen who died aged nine

Last month, the pair were spotted making their way out of a local Montecito restaurant.

It comes 17  months after a close friend of the Zajfen family revealed to DailyMail.com that Kelly’s son George had been found ‘unresponsive’ in their family home and that his death had come as a complete shock to his loved ones and parents. 

In September, George Zajfen Tournament—Tennis for Tots, was played in George’s honour to raise money for the Alliance for Children’s Rights.

Kelly – who is also mother to George’s twin sister Lily – herself has been open about her grief on Instagram, writing in October of last year that she was ‘not really okay’, while telling her followers: ‘The light everyday is dim. I try my best. We are all trying our best. I’m so broken. 

‘I’m searching everyday to find some new way to mold the pieces back together and I’m completely aware that it may not all fit again.’

In May, she posted a heartfelt tribute to Meghan on her account, praising the Duchess of Sussex for her support and praising her for being such an ‘incredible friend and mother’. 

‘You are always the first to say yes and support those you love. You are a fierce advocate for those who are in need,’ Kelly continued, while sharing an image of herself and the Duchess of Sussex both wearing ‘Community Motherhood’ T-shirts in support of an Alliance of Moms campaign. 

Meghan and Harry donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe fundraiser set up to cover funeral expenses in the name of their children Archie and Lilibet.

Meghan’s ex-husband Trevor Engelson, 45, also donated $1,000 in his name and that of his wife Tracey Kurland, 35.

Meghan has been a long-term friend of George’s mother Kelly McKee Zajfen, who has previously described the Duchess as an ‘incredible friend and mother’ (the pair are pictured together)

Former model Kelly McKee Zajfen’s nine-year-old son George was found ‘unresponsive’ at the family’s Los Angeles home last year.(L-R George, Kelly, Lily, nine, father Julian) 

A source told DailyMail.com that Meghan met Zajfen through Engelson who is friends with her entertainment lawyer husband Julian, 47.

Another friend said the pair had maintained a connection via Zajfen’s role as founder of Alliance of Moms – an LA-based nonprofit that works to support pregnant teenagers and new mothers in the foster care system.

Celebrity friends of Zajfen’s paid tribute to George on her Instagram post, among them Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar and actresses Minka Kelly and Jamie Lynn-Siegler.

Kelly is the co-founder of Alliance of Moms, an LA ‘community of philanthropists who support pregnant and parenting teens in LA’s foster care system.’

She also runs an eco-conscious children’s clothing brand.

Announcing her son’s heartbreaking passing in July, Kelly said she would keep going for the sake of George’s twin sister Lily who has a pacemaker fitted for a cardiac condition.

Ahead of her first mother’s day is Kelly first since her son’s death, she posted a thank-you to Meghan online.

Kelly is pictured with her nine-year-old son George 

The Duchess of Sussex placed a supportive arm around her friend as they left a restaurant  in May 

In a post on Instagram, she said: ‘As Mother’s Day approaches, I can’t help but think of my own #commUNITY of Motherhood.

‘I instantly think of you Meg. How incredibly nurturing and warm and open you are. What an incredible friend and mother.

‘I’m truly in awe of you and I am so grateful you are part of my #CommUNITYofmotherhood.

‘You are always the first to say yes and support those you love. You are a fierce advocate for those who are in need.

‘Thank you for joining this year’s campaign to support LA’s expectant and parenting foster youth, which helps provide critical services, education, resources and advocacy so they can build a better future for themselves and their families.’

Alongside the cap, Meghan also wore Princess Diana’s watch, and a Bentley & Skinner diamond tennis bracelet – a gift from the King worth at least £4,900.

The piece, which was first worn on the eve of her wedding to Prince Harry, was first created by royal warrant holders Bentley & Skinner, features ninety-two round brilliant-cut diamonds.

A fund was set up on behalf of the the Zajfen family, from Los Angeles, who tragically lost their nine-year-old son George (L-R George, Kelly, Lily, nine, father Julian)

Meghan and her ex-husband both donated to the funeral

Meghan last wore the bracelet publicly during a hike in May, and prior to that it hasn’t been seen since 2022, lending even more significance to her choice to wear it out today, perched on top of her Cartier Love Bracelet. 

At first glance, it would be easy to miss the piece which sat on her wrist over the more solid bangle, but the glint of diamonds quickly gave it away.  

It may be a sign of peace between the warring Windsors after Scobie‘s new book Endgame named Charles and the Princess of Wales as the two royals who allegedly expressed concern about the colour of Prince Archie‘s skin before he was born. 

Harry and Meghan are said to be ‘desperate to get back into the royal fold’ and recently reached out to Charles for his 75th birthday. 

The bracelet, which was was last seen publicly wearing in May during a hike in California, could be the Duchess’s subtle nod to her family, 5,000 miles away.

Her appearance comes as Scobie, who has been seen as the unofficial spokesman for the couple, is still struggling to deal with the fallout from his new book.

An initial draft of the book, given to Dutch translators, named the two senior members of the royal family – King Charles and The Princess of Wales- who Meghan said told of their ‘concerns’ about the colour of her son Archie’s skin, while she was pregnant.

Meghan first made her allegations about the conversation in her televised interview with Oprah Winfrey, in March 2021.

Harry and Meghan issued a statement saying it was not the late Queen or her husband Prince Philip, but have refused to name the members of the royal family who made the comments.

Scobie’s book marks the first time they have been named.

And despite the author’s denials, his UK agent did send a draft manuscript of Endgame naming the two ‘royal racists’ to be translated into Dutch, it has been claimed.

The revelation exposes Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘cheerleader-in-chief’s’ weasel words that he ‘never submitted a book that had those names in it’.

A source told The Times United Talent Agency had earlier sent a draft version of the book to publisher Xander Uitgevers which contained the names.

However, a final proof of the 400-page tome was later sent but it is understood the translator had been working from an earlier draft.

Buckingham Palace is mulling whether to take legal action after King Charles and the Princess of Wales were named as the senior royals who allegedly remarked about Archie’s skin colour before he was born.