Duchess Meghan glows in H&M for visit to Mayhew animal shelter

The Duchess of Sussex, ever the animal lover, paid her first official visit to Mayhew, an organization she just took on as one of her four patronages last week. Established in 1886, the London-based charity has been working to "improve the lives of dogs, cats and people in communities both in London and internationally."

Over the past year alone, the organization has handled over 1,000 animal welfare cases, vaccinated more than 32,000 animals and neutered 12,000 animals overseas. During Wednesday's visit, Duchess Meghan learned about these milestones and spoke to many of the program's volunteers.

The mom-to-be, who was previously the owner of two rescues before her move across the pond, looked quite in her element at the shelter. Two of the animals she met included Maggie, a Jack Russell puppy rescued from a puppy mill, and Roobarb, who is currently participating in Mayhew's animal therapy program.

For the occasion, the duchess opted for a tight, turtleneck maternity dress from budget-friendly H&M, which she wore underneath a cashmere Armani coat. She accessorized the look with the Stella McCartney Falabella Mini Reversible Shaggy Deer Tote Bag ($1145 at Neiman Marcus) and nude heels.

The duchess' 3 other patronages include The National Theatre and The Association of Commonwealth Universities, passed down from Queen Elizabeth, and Smart Works, an organization dedicated to helping vulnerable women rejoin the workforce. Kensington Palace announced that the royal will be visiting all of these patronages in the coming weeks.

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