Meghan Markle's skiing posse: How the Duchess found a core group of friends in Heather Dorak and Kelly McKee Zajfen following 'Megxit'- and the Sussexes supported the former model after her 9-year-old son's death

Meghan Markle has enjoyed a ski trip with her close friends Kelly McKee Zajfen and Heather Dorak.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, was pictured smiling with pilates business owner Dorak and former model Zajfen on the slopes of Powder Mountain near Salt Lake City in Utah, in an Instagram post shared by the founder of Pilates Platinum.

The trio have long been the 'best of friends', with Meghan first meeting Heather in 2005 when the pilates and yoga instructor became the former actress' during her time on US legal drama Suits.

Kelly and Meghan, meanwhile, became close through the Duchess' ex-husband Engelson, who is pals with the former model's entertainment lawyer husband Julian.

Meghan has supported Kelly through the grief of losing her son George, who died aged just nine in July 2022 after being found unresponsive in their family home.

Meghan Markle (left) at Powder Mountain in Utah with friends Heather Dorak (centre) and Kelly McKee Zajfen (right), in a photo posted on Instagram by both Dorak and Zajfen today

Kelly - co-founder of the Alliance of Moms group which supports pregnant and parenting teenagers in the foster care system in Los Angeles - has been open about her heartache on Instagram, writing in October 2022 that she was 'not really okay'.

The parent - who is also mother to George's twin sister Lily - said: '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.'

Harry and Meghan donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe fundraiser in the names of their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet after the Zajfen family lost George. 

In May, Kelly posted a heartfelt tribute to Meghan on her account, praising the Duchess for her support and 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 both wearing 'Community Motherhood' T-shirts in support of an Alliance of Moms campaign. 

As for Heather, she attended Meghan and Harry's wedding in Windsor in May 2018 with her husband Matt Cohen.

Heather Dorak has been the Duchess of Sussex's devoted friend for many years and the pair are often spotted out and about together in LA

Kelly shared an image of herself and the Duchess both wearing 'Community Motherhood' T-shirts in support of an Alliance of Moms campaign on Instagram

Meghan has supported Kelly through the grief of losing her son George, who died aged just nine in July 2022 after being found unresponsive in their family home 

Originally from Texas, she is now based in California where she owns six studios under the Pilates Platinum brand.

Heather was spotted hiking with Meghan near the royal couple's mansion after they celebrated Archie's fourth birthday.

The pair also appeared together on Meghan's social media before she took down her accounts after her wedding. 

The pilates instructor moved to LA with aspirations of a professional career in dance. However an injury inspired her move towards Pilates after a doctor recommended it.

Heather became Meghan's coach many years ago when she worked on the TV show Suits.

In a social media post from 2015, Heather said she was celebrating ten years of friendship with Meghan, adding that she was 'one of my first clients'. 

The pair have shared holidays and days out together, including a trip to a Vancouver Canucks hockey game in 2015. 

Heather also attended Meghan's 2015 speech at the UN Women's 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference of Women in Beijing event in New York City with Meghan's mother Doria Ragland. 

Heather became Meghan's coach many years ago when she worked on the TV show Suits

The pair have shared holidays and days out together, including a trip to Vancouver in 2015

Heather contributed fitness expertise to Meghan’s former lifestyle blog The Tig before she closed it down. 

She has been a key part of Meghan's North American inner circle since Megxit, visiting the royal couple in Canada in January 2020 shortly after they left the UK after stepping back as senior royals.

Posting to Instagram this week about their recent ski trip, Heather wrote: 'Wow, what a perfect trip!! My heart is so full. 

'The kids crushed the slopes by day and the adults howled with laughter deep into the night. Truly lucky in love with our wonderful friends!'

The trio of friends were seen in the post's photograph wearing big coats, gloves, sunglasses and beanie hats – while Heather also posted pictures of her family members on the trip.

Kelly also shared the photo in an Instagram post of her own, writing: 'Beyond grateful for the best of friends! What a trip! Thank you doesn't even begin to express what my heart is feeling after this trip.

'The love of family time and adventure and belly laughs made this trip one for the books! Here's to many more adventures with friends that feel like family and appreciating each day.'

It comes two weeks after Meghan was pictured on the slopes of Whistler in Canada with Prince Harry for an event marking one year to go until the next Invictus Games.

Since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's trip to Whistler last month, Meghan has appeared in North West London via videolink to open a new wing of the Mayhew vet clinic on February 21.

This was publicised via the new Sussex.com website she launched with Harry, which instantly became controversial due to the prominence of its royal branding.

A video has also emerged this week of Meghan cooking traditional Afghan food with a group of 15 women who resettled in the US from Afghanistan – although this was from an earlier visit to the Southern California Welcome Project on February 10.

Harry and Meghan at an Invictus Games event in Whistler, Canada, on February 14, 2024

On Wednesday, Harry lost his High Court challenge against the Home Office over a decision to change the level of his personal security when he visits the UK.

The Duke later said he would seek to appeal the ruling, after he took legal action against the Government department over a decision made in February 2020 that he should receive a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection when in Britain.

The Duke returned briefly to the UK on February 6 without his family after making a transatlantic dash to be with his father following news of the King's cancer diagnosis.

Harry later gave an interview to ABC’s Good Morning America while in Whistler, insisting 'I love my family' and that he 'jumped on a plane' to visit the King 'as soon as I could' after speaking on the phone about his cancer diagnosis.

The Duke also revealed he was 'grateful' to have seen Charles in person and hopes the diagnosis can have a 'reunifying effect' on the Royal Family .

Harry and Meghan live in the US with their two children Archie and Lilibet after the couple announced they were stepping back as senior royals in January 2020.