Inside Meghan Markle's 43rd Birthday Bash: Private Greeting From King Charles, Prince Harry's Exclusive Dinner
Prince Harry likely pampered his wife Meghan Markle on her 43rd birthday Sunday, according to a former royal staffer.
People earlier reported that the Duchess of Sussex was expected to celebrate her birthday privately with family like she did in recent years.
However, Grant Harrold, who worked as King Charles' royal butler for seven years, suggested to the New York Post that the Duke of Sussex likely invited their friends over to their Montecito, California, mansion for a cookout to mark his wife's special day.
According to Harrold, Prince Harry is a "good cook" and "gentleman" who would "make sure that Meghan is celebrated."
"They may have a party, they do enjoy summer BBQs outdoors so they might invite friends round for a dinner or a [barbecue]," he told the outlet.
While the former palace staffer believes it's unlikely for the royal family to post a public birthday greeting for the duchess, he said he has "no doubt" that Markle will receive messages, phone calls or cards from King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton for her 43rd birthday.
"They will rise above everything that has happened because at the end of the day, they are still family," Harrold explained. "I don't think that will change certainly despite everything that's happened."
Harrold also suggested that his former boss could send his daughter-in-law a birthday gift, though it likely would not be as special or lavish as presents she received when she and Prince Harry were not yet estranged from the royal family.
"They say blood is thicker than water so I think all the family will send their wishes and possibly a gift," he told the Post.
The royal family has not acknowledged Markle's birthday on their social media pages since 2022.
At the time, Prince William and Princess Kate shared on X, formerly Twitter, a photo of the former "Suits" star smiling while wearing a white coat and matching hat to celebrate Markle turning 41.
"Wishing a happy birthday to The Duchess of Sussex!" the photo was captioned.
Wishing a happy birthday to The Duchess of Sussex! pic.twitter.com/HrYdCbe6N1
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) August 4, 2022
King Charles and Queen Camilla posted the same birthday greeting alongside another photo of Markle on their own account.
However, there was radio silence from all senior royals when Markle celebrated her 42nd birthday last year.
There'd been hopes for a reconciliation earlier this year when Prince Harry rushed to the U.K. to visit his father after King Charles' cancer diagnosis was made public.
However, an unnamed close friend of Prince Harry's claimed to People last month that King Charles has stopped taking his younger son's calls.
