As Meghan Markle celebrates her 44th birthday today, it is likely only one member of the Royal Family will reach out to send her a birthday message, a royal expert has claimed. It comes as Meghan Markle and her husband Prince Harry continue their long-running rift with the Firm following their dramatic departure from royal duties in 2020.
On her special day, the former Suits actress is thought to be in Montecito, California, with her loved ones, including her two children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four. Former BBC royal correspondent, Jennie Bond, said: “I don’t think Meghan should hold her breath for birthday messages from the Royal Family, though it may well be that Princess Eugenie – and possibly Beatrice— will send a present or a card.”
Discussing how the family will celebrate the milestone, she added: “As far as I can see, he [Prince Harry] is still head over heels in love with Meghan and will probably organise a romantic dinner or perhaps a beach party with friends and lots of children to celebrate their happy family life in California. Maybe a sunrise yoga session would set the day up rather nicely!”
Typically, non-working royals, like Meghan and Prince Harry, only receive messages for milestone birthday ages ending in 0 or 5.
Princess Eugenie is known to be one of the few royals who remained close to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their decision to step back from royal duties.
The Princess of York’s public appearance with Misha Nonoo, a close friend of Meghan, at the Royal Ascot in June this year, further suggested a continued connection to Meghan, as the pair looked to be enjoying the annual event at the famous Berkshire racecourse.
Misha is known to have long been a mutual friend of both Eugenie and Meghan, who knew each other even before Meghan met Prince Harry in 2016.
Meghan’s last public birthday message from the Royal Family came in 2021 when she celebrated her 40th birthday.
The Duchess of Sussex’s birthday comes as in recent weeks, she has fallen silent on her Instagram account. But recently, her lifestyle brand, As Ever, made an announcement last week that she will be selling another batch of her rose wine.
The royal expert added: “I think Meghan deserves to be pretty happy with how this year has gone so far. Whatever she does or says gets slammed in the media, but she has built up a substantial social media following in very little time, the products that she endorses or sells seem to do exceptionally well, and her TV and podcast shows — although clearly not ground breaking – are perfectly watchable, however much her critics like to pan them.”