Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, recently celebrated her 42nd birthday on August 4. However, the occasion was notably absent of any acknowledgment from the British royal family. This silence, according to some experts, was not an oversight but a deliberate decision.
Tessa Dunlop, a renowned royal historian, weighed in on the matter, suggesting that the royal family might have felt that any acknowledgment would come across as insincere. "I just think that they probably felt it looked a bit fake, given the whole world knows they're not really speaking much at the moment," Dunlop remarked. She further added, "I think it would have looked a bit disingenuous, probably to slap photos up there with really no noticeable communication going on behind the scenes."
This lack of a birthday message is a stark contrast to the previous year when the palace did acknowledge the former "Suits" actress's birthday. The change in attitude could be attributed to the heightened tension between the Sussexes and the royal family, especially after the couple's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey. However, Dunlop pointed out that the Sussexes had attended the Platinum Jubilee, where they maintained a low profile and did not attempt to overshadow the Queen. "It all went quite well," she noted.
Despite the lack of public acknowledgment from the royal family, Meghan Markle didn't let the day go unnoticed. Reports suggest that she enjoyed an intimate dinner with Prince Harry and close friends, followed by a screening of the movie "Barbie."
Since their departure from the U.K., both Meghan and Harry have been working diligently to establish their individual brands, separate from the royal family. Meghan, in particular, has been making moves in the entertainment industry. She signed with the mega-agency WME in April and has been collaborating with Ari Emanuel to redefine her image. There are also speculations about Meghan returning to her blogging roots, as she recently applied to trademark "The Tig," her erstwhile lifestyle blog.
WME, in a statement, mentioned their focus on "building out her business ventures across multiple facets of the agency and its broader ecosystem, including film and television production, brand partnerships, and more."
While the royal family's silence on Meghan's birthday might have raised eyebrows, it's evident that the Duchess of Sussex is charting her own course, undeterred by the lack of royal acknowledgment.
