Meghan Markle and Prince Harry welcome adorable new family member with the sweetest name

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have adopted an 'older' dog after making a private visit to an animal rescue center in California. 

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly adopted an 'older' rescue dog from an animal rescue center in North Hollywood. 
• The Duchess of Sussex was determined to rehome seven-year-old Momma Mia, rather than one of her newborn puppies, according to the center's director. 
• In other royal news, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis share this unusual hobby with cousins Archie and Lilibet.
  

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have expanded their family by adopting an 'older' rescue dog from an animal rescue center in California, according to insider sources. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently paid a private trip to the Beagle Freedom Programme in North Hollywood, where they met with its director, animal rights attorney Shannon Keith, after opening hours to the public had ended. The exciting news comes shortly after the release of Meghan Markle's Spotify podcast, Archetypes, in which she was joined by Serena Williams for a candid discussion on the labels that 'hold women back' in society. 

It's understood that the royal couple adopted seven-year-old Momma Mia, a 'traumatized' beagle who had been rescued from a research and breeding plant in Virginia, rather than one of her eight newborn puppies. 

"The Duchess is holding Mia and was like: ‘We’re adopting her,'" Keith told the Los Angeles Times. "She was like: ‘No, we don’t want a Christmas puppy. We want ones we can help who are older." 

According to Keith, Meghan had personally phoned her to arrange the exciting appointment. 

“She calls on my cell with no caller ID and says: ‘Hey Shannon, this is Meghan,'" the animal rights attorney revealed, admitting that she initially mistook the duchess for Hollywood actor Meghan Fox. After clearing up that the speaker was, in fact, the US royal, the Sussex couple drove to the rescue center with two of their security guards. 

Keith also shared details of the A-list interaction with People magazine, hailing Meghan and Harry as "the most loving, sensitive and caring adopters I have ever met." 

"They made a point to adopt a rescue named Mia, who most would overlook because she is older, has health issues, and is traumatized by her past," she explained. 

"I was so impressed by their commitment to animal welfare! They have been following up letting us know how well Momma Mia is doing in her new, amazing home!"

Meghan has never been shy about her love of our furry friends, having previously served as royal patron of Mayhew, an animal welfare charity based in London. The Sussexes are also the proud parents of a rescue labrador named Pula, as well as a rescue beagle named Guy.