Prince William, Kate, And The Rest Of The Royal Family Send Meghan Markle Birthday Wishes On Social Media
Meghan Markle is celebrating her 40th birthday on Aug. 4, 2021, and the Duchess of Sussex is giving back in honor of her special day. She has announced her new birthday initiative, 40x40, to help women who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic get back to work. Markle announced the news on her Archewell website, revealing that she's enlisted the help of actress Melissa McCarthy for the program.
She has asked 40 well-known actors, athletes, and other notables to pledge 40 minutes of mentorship in hopes of helping these women get back into the workforce. "With this time, I hope they each help someone advance a professional life on her own terms, and, I hope that they inspire countless others to give 40 minutes of their time as well," Markle wrote on the Archewell website.
As for her personal birthday celebration, Markle is said to be spending her day with Prince Harry and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, per Harper's Bazaar. The family will likely enjoy a quiet evening at their home in Montecito, California, as Harry and Meghan are both still on parental leave following Lilibet's birth in June.
While Markle has been hard at work on her birthday initiative, her famous in-laws did take the time to wish her a happy 40th birthday, despite her and Harry's rift with the royal family.
The royals shared online birthday tributes to Meghan Markle
People reports that Meghan Markle wasn't forgotten by the royal family on her 40th birthday. Prince William, Kate Middleton, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, all shared their love for Markle on her special day. The official royal family Twitter account shared three gorgeous photos of Markle, including one with the Queen. "Wishing The Duchess of Sussex a very Happy Birthday today!" the caption read.
Meanwhile, William and Kate used their Twitter account to share their own birthday wishes. The couple posted a photo of Markle wearing a green dress with a big smile on her face. "Wishing a happy 40th birthday to The Duchess of Sussex!" they captioned the snap, adding a birthday cake emoji for emphasis.
Markle's in-laws, Charles and Camilla, also used social media to shout out the duchess on her milestone birthday. The couple posted a close-up pic of Markle smiling brightly. "Wishing The Duchess of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday," they wrote.
The birthday messages come after a rocky year between the Sussexes and the royal family. Following their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, there's been talk of a rift among the family members (via ET). However, it seems that everyone was willing to put their differences aside — at least publicly — in honor of Markle's birthday.