Meghan Markle marked her 45th birthday on Tuesday by sharing a series of photos on Instagram, showing her jumping into a pool while holding balloons. The Duchess of Sussex captioned the post, "Thank you for the birthday love! 🎈," accompanied by the song "Summer Holiday."
Speculation surrounds whether members of the royal family acknowledged Markle's birthday, particularly in light of her and Prince Harry's estrangement from the family since stepping down in 2020. Royal commentator Tom Sykes suggested that King Charles III, known for his politeness, would likely send birthday wishes, possibly through his staff.
"I am quite certain he would wish to send his daughter-in-law his birthday wishes," Sykes told Page Six. He also noted that Charles has "rarely gone out of his way to be overtly unkind toward Meghan," and a "discreet gesture would be entirely in keeping with his character."
However, other royal experts expressed doubt about acknowledgment from other senior royals. Royal expert Kinsey Schofield indicated that Prince William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, are unlikely to extend birthday wishes to Markle. Schofield stated that their relationship with the Duchess of Sussex has diminished significantly, and any notion of them exchanging wishes is likely wishful thinking.
"They believe Meghan played a significant role in the breakdown of family trust, and I think any suggestion that they’re secretly exchanging birthday wishes belongs more in the realm of wishful thinking than reality," Schofield claimed.
Despite the reported distance, Prince Harry and his wife recently met privately with King Charles III and Queen Camilla, along with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. A source described the reunion as "wasn't entirely warm and fuzzy." Prince Harry is expected to return to the UK in September, with reports suggesting he may stay at Buckingham Palace.