Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, celebrated her 42nd birthday on August 4th, but unlike previous years, the British Royal Family remained notably silent on their social media channels. While the Duchess received an outpouring of birthday wishes from friends, fans, and well-wishers worldwide, Prince Harry's family chose to remain quiet.
Historically, members of the Royal Family have taken to their respective social media platforms to extend birthday greetings to their kin. Last year, for instance, Prince William and Kate Middleton publicly wished Meghan on her 41st birthday with a message that read, "Wishing a happy birthday to The Duchess of Sussex!" accompanied by a radiant photo of the Duchess. Similarly, King Charles III and Queen Camilla shared a cheerful image of Meghan, captioning it, "Happy birthday to the Duchess of Sussex!" with a balloon emoji. Both photos were from the Duchess's appearance at the Platinum Jubilee Thanksgiving Service in June 2022, marking her and Prince Harry's sole public appearance during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
However, this year's silence wasn't exclusive to Meghan. The Royal Family also refrained from publicly acknowledging the birthdays of Meghan and Prince Harry's children. Princess Lilibet Diana turned two on June 4, and Prince Archie celebrated his birthday on May 6, coinciding with King Charles III's coronation. Prince Harry was present for his father's coronation but promptly returned to California to mark his son's special day.
Details surrounding Meghan's 42nd birthday celebrations remain private. However, speculations suggest it was a low-key affair, much like the previous year when she hosted a close-knit gathering at her Montecito residence. A day before her birthday, Meghan and Prince Harry were spotted enjoying dinner at the Italian restaurant Tre Lune in Montecito, California, with their close friend Matt Cohen, husband to Meghan's longtime friend Heather Dorak. Witnesses described the trio as being in high spirits, sharing smiles and laughter.
Meghan's 40th birthday was marked by the launch of her 40x40 initiative, urging 40 friends to donate 40 minutes of their time to support women re-entering the workforce post-pandemic. The initiative's announcement video featured a comedic cameo by Prince Harry and actress Melissa McCarthy.
While Prince William might not have publicly acknowledged Meghan's birthday this year, August 4 holds historical significance for the Royal Family. Not only was it the Queen Mother's birthday, but Prince William was also christened on this day in 1982. In his memoir, Prince Harry recounted King Charles III's delight upon discovering that Meghan shared a birthday with his beloved grandmother, the Queen Mother, referring to the connection as "amazing."
Meghan's relationship with the Royal Family has been a topic of global interest, and this year's silent birthday wishes only add another layer to the ongoing narrative.
