Meghan Markle Finally Shares a Glimpse of Her Private Birthday Bash — And It’s a Trip Down Memory Lane
Meghan Markle recently celebrated her 44th birthday on August 4, and it was a private affair. She chose to celebrate in a way that truly matters to her, surrounded by the people she loves. The Duchess of Sussex spent the evening in Beverly Hills, enjoying a special dinner with Prince Harry and a close-knit group of friends and family. She later shared a glimpse of the celebration on Instagram, posting a photo from the night.
In the picture, she appeared to have worn a white mini dress featuring floral appliqué and gem details around the collar; a piece she had previously worn during the Global Citizen Live event in New York a few years ago, according to PEOPLE. While the short-sleeved dress is just visible in the photo, it's the embellished flowers that had royal watchers convinced it's the same dress.
For her birthday, she refreshed her look by wearing her hair straight and adding smoky eye makeup. In her caption, Markle expressed gratitude to her husband Harry, her loved ones, and the many well-wishers who sent her kind messages. “Blowing out the candles on a beautiful 24-hour, and thanking my husband, friends, and family for making it so special. To those of you I don’t know, but who send love every day, thank you so much. Please know I feel it and appreciate it.” She also praised the food at Funke, a popular Beverly Hills restaurant led by chef Evan Funke, calling the dining experience unforgettable. “This dinner last night at @funke_la with the culinary mastery of @evanfunke and his team is in the top five meals of my life. Extraordinary.”
Markle is known for adding personal meaning to her style choices, often re-wearing outfits that carry memories. As per Marie Claire, over the years, she has brought back several key pieces, like a red Carolina Herrera gown she first wore in 2021 and reworked for a 2024 event, and a flowing yellow dress that has appeared during multiple important family moments.
While Markle celebrated her big day quietly in California, royal watchers wondered whether the royal family acknowledged her birthday, given the ongoing tensions since the Sussexes stepped down as senior royals in 2020. Former royal butler Grant Harrold believes a polite gesture from King Charles was likely made, despite the distance between the families. He argued, “As far as the royal family congratulating or wishing a happy birthday, I believe the King and Queen will wish her a happy birthday. “The thing with the royal family is that when it comes to politeness and manners, they are the top of the game. So, I still think they will still honor it.”
He added that while Prince William is unlikely to personally reach out, Kate Middleton might offer birthday wishes on behalf of both. “I’m sure we’ll see Harry do something on social media. They’ll try to make people aware it’s her birthday... Everyone deserves birthday wishes.” Harrold also shared some insight into how Harry might mark the occasion behind the scenes, pointing to a royal tradition of quirky gifts. “The royal family is famous for quirky, fun presents, so who knows. Maybe he might get her a piece of land on the moon. Or he might get her a title as a bit of a joke; you can get these Highland titles.”