Meghan Markle & Prince Harry adopt Ellen DeGeneres’ former pet & fans get a sneak peek at their garden at £12m mansion

MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry’s family has just grown a little larger as they’ve adopted a new chicken for the coop at their £12million mansion.

Rescue chicken ‘Sinkie’ previously had a very famous previous owner – former chat show host Ellen DeGeneres – but had to be re-homed due to other chickens bullying her.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have taken on one of Ellen DeGeneres’ chickensCredit: Apple Tv

Sinkie the rescue chicken is said to be enjoying her new life in the Sussexes’ coop in CaliforniaCredit: Instagram/@ellendegeneres
Ellen took to Instagram to share the news with her followers, saying: “Sinkie’s leg is fixed but our chickens were still picking on her so she had to be re-homed.

“Luckily our friends Harry and Meghan’s coop had room for one more.

“Not sure yet what her royal title will be.”

Sinkie won’t have had to travel far to her new home, as Ellen, 65, lives just a five-minute drive from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in Montecito, Santa Barbara.

Animal lover Ellen had previously shared updates on rescue chicken Sinkie, who had suffered a broken fibula bone before Christmas.

Ellen and wife Portia de Rossi had named the bird Sinkie as she loved an old stone sink in their garden.

She explained: “I know it’s a stupid name. You can blame Steve Carell for that, he named her.”

American actor Steve Carell, who starred in The Office, is a friend of Ellen’s.

Ellen shared a photo of Sinkie appearing to enjoy her new dwelling at Meghan and Harry’s swanky Californian mansion.

Previously, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex gave Oprah Winfrey a tour of their rescue chicken coop, adding that it was part of them aiming to “live authentically”.

In a video clip, an adorable red hen house dubbed “Archie’s Chick Inn” was also spotted.

Oprah said the chickens were saved from a nearby factory farm.

Ellen’s fans were quick to comment on Meghan and Harry taking on Sinkie, with one writing: “HRH Sinkie”.

Another person added: “Lady Sinkington would be such a cute royal title for Sinkie!”

And a third commented: “Sinkie is lucky. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will spoil her.”

Prince Harry and Meghan bought their luxury Montecito mansion for £11.93m in June 2020.

It is also home to their son Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two.

The sprawling nine-bed, 16-bath home sits on 5.4 acres of land and features a library, office, spa, gym, game room, wine cellar and five-car garage, it’s believed.

The estate also boasts sweeping lawns, tiered rose gardens, tall Italian cypress trees, blooming lavender, olive trees, a tennis court, tea house, children’s cottage and a pool.

The couple have treated fans to glimpses of their multiple living spaces on several occasions – showing off a minimalist vibe.

In May last year it was said to have more than doubled in value since the former royals bought it.

As well as chickens, Meghan has previously adopted a number of dogs.

These include a beagle named Mamma Mia, a beagle called Guy, a labrador-shepherd mix called Bogart, who was unable to relocate with Meghan to the UK due to his ailing health, and a black Labrador with Prince Harry called Pula.