Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 6, 2025 · Entertainment

Meghan Markle Celebrates Birthday with Royal Flair and Special Thanks to Prince Harry

Meghan Markle's Birthday Extravaganza: The Duchess of Sussex Celebrates 44th Year with Style and Substance

It was a day of unbridled joy for Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, as she marked her 44th birthday in grand style. The actress-turned-royal, who turned 44 on Monday, shared a series of heartwarming tributes from her closest friends and family members on social media.

But before we dive into the juicy details, let's set the scene for Meghan's special day. According to sources close to the royal family, the Duchess celebrated her birthday in the company of loved ones at the esteemed restaurant Funke in Beverly Hills. The acclaimed eatery, which has been a favorite among celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé, treated Meghan to an unforgettable dining experience that she described as "one of the top five meals of my life."

Meghan Markle shared sweet words of thanks to her husband Prince Harry on Tuesday when she marked her 44th birthday on Instagram

As Meghan marked her special day with a family gathering at Funke, her closest friends took to social media to express their love and admiration for the Duchess. Among them was her longtime pal Abigail Spencer, who shared a photo of the two smiling together on Instagram.

"Happy Birthday to my Champ! You're like sunshine in a bottle," Abigail gushed in her caption, praising Meghan's infectious energy and kindness. The actress also described Meghan as "Champagne in human form" - a fitting tribute to the Duchess's bubbly personality.

Meghan responded with warmth, thanking Abigail for her thoughtful words and birthday wishes. But it wasn't just Abigail who sent love to Meghan on her special day. Close friends Kelly McKee Zajfen, Tracy Robbins, and Jamie Kern Lima all shared tributes that showcased their affection and admiration for the Duchess.

'Blowing out the candles on a beautiful 24 hours, and thanking my husband, friends and family for making it so special,' she captioned the celebratory post; pictured with Harry in May 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria

Kelly shared a rare black-and-white photo of herself and Meghan laughing together, while Tracy posted a candid shot of the two enjoying cocktails. "Happy birthday my dear @meghan Oh how I can laugh and dance with you like no other," Tracy gushed in her caption, praising Meghan's ability to bring joy and light into people's lives.

Jamie Kern Lima, who hosted Meghan on her podcast earlier this year, shared a heartfelt message thanking the Duchess for being "love, light and such a great friend." The actress also posted an image of herself holding a rainbow fruit platter she had made in honor of Meghan's birthday - a sweet gesture that showcases their close friendship.

Meanwhile, Daniel Martin, Meghan's make-up artist pal, shared a touching photo of the Duchess cuddling with her beagle Mia in the garden of her Montecito mansion. "HBD sis!" he wrote in his caption, wishing Meghan a happy birthday and expressing his admiration for her kindness and generosity.

Meghan's birthday celebrations were at the acclaimed Beverly Hills restaurant Funke, led by head chef and co-owner Evan Funke. Justin and Hailey Bieber took over the restaurant in October 2024 when she hosted her Rhode Skin launch party there

Rounding off the tributes was actress Kerry Washington, who has been friends with Meghan since 2013. "To this beautiful (inside and out) @meghan Love you so much!" Kerry shared on Instagram, praising the Duchess's inner beauty and radiating kindness.

Meghan's Birthday Wishes in Her Own Words

But Meghan didn't just stop at sharing her friends' tributes. The Duchess also took to social media to express her gratitude for the love and support she receives from her fans around the world. "To those of you I don’t know, but who send love every day — thank you so much," she wrote in a heartfelt caption on Instagram.

It's also a favorite sport for the Kardashian–Jenner clan. Kim Kardashian celebrated her 43rd birthday there in October 2023; Khloé Kardashian is pictured poking fun her sister by wearing a mask Kim's visage on it for her birthday at Funke

Meghan's post was accompanied by a photo of herself blowing out candles on her birthday cake - an intimate moment that showcases her genuine appreciation for the people in her life. "Blowing out the candles on a beautiful 24 hours, and thanking my husband, friends and family for making it so special," she captioned the image.

Meghan's As Ever Brand Celebrates Her Birthday

Meghan's lifestyle brand, As Ever, also joined in the birthday celebrations with its own tribute to the Duchess. The company shared a stunning black-and-white photo of Meghan wearing a sundress and hat as she beamed into the distance.

Meghan Markle's closest friends, including Jamie Kern Lima, pictured with the Duchess, have marked her 44th birthday with a series of gushing tributes shared to social media

"Happy birthday to our founder!" the caption read, praising Meghan's vision and dedication to creating high-quality products that reflect her personal style. As Ever also posted a series of images showcasing their new 2024 Napa Valley rosé, which is set to launch next week.

A Sneak Peek into Meghan's Birthday Celebrations

According to sources close to the royal family, Meghan celebrated her birthday with a private dinner at Funke, surrounded by loved ones. The evening was filled with laughter and joy as Meghan blew out candles on her cake, surrounded by her husband Prince Harry and their two children.

Tracy Robbins shared a behind-the-scenes snap of her husband Brian and Meghan at Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour

The Duchess also shared a series of behind-the-scenes glimpses into her birthday preparations on social media. In one post, she showed off her stack of rings - including her engagement ring, wedding ring, and an infinity ring estimated to be worth around £210,000.

Meghan's birthday celebration was the perfect showcase of her gratitude for the love and support in her life. As she marked another year of growth and happiness, Meghan's friends and family came together to express their admiration and appreciation for this incredible woman.

And what better way to celebrate than with a new rosé from Meghan's As Ever brand? Stay tuned for our review of the 2024 Napa Valley rosé - will it live up to its predecessor, or will it fall flat?

Tracy showed a very light-hearted and laid back side to Meghan, as they were seen giggling while enjoying cocktails together

Meghan's make-up artist friend Daniel Martin shared a candid snap of the Duchess and her beagle Mia enjoying the sun in her Montecito garden

The Duchess shared rare personal comments to Instagram as she replied to the posts

Jamie Kern Lima also shared a behind-the-scenes look from their podcast earlier this year - including a rainbow fruit platter they had made together

Kelly Mckee Zajfen shared an unseen black-and-white photograph of herself and the mother-of-two laughing together, while standing beside a fountain

Abigail Spencer and Meghan met years ago during an audition but got to know each other after appearing on Suits together

In her gushing birthday message, Abigail wished Meghan a happy birthday, and credited the Duchess with 'saving' her life

Meghan replied with a rare social media comment, writing: 'Thank you, sweet Abs! Right back at you, and happy birthday to YOU! 44/4'

Meghan, left, and Abigail Spencer, right, are seen while appearing in an episode of Suits

Meghan's As Ever brand has posted a gushing birthday tribute as she celebrated her 44th birthday

In the video, Meghan swings her Hermes-clad feet while sitting on a wall, her basket filled with flowers and bottles of wine

Meghan described her new bottles as 'goodness in a glass'

Meghan Markle tried to stir up excitement over her new product announcement but it might be hard for customers to spot what's new with this one

The company revealed on Wednesday that following the buzz surrounding the 2023 Napa Valley rosé, it will be launching another wine, called the 2024 Napa Valley rosé

'It marries the same harmony of notes from our first blend and creates an elegant medley of delicate yet memorable flavor,' reads a press release

The 2023 Napa Valley rosé is described on the bottle as a 'delicately balanced rosé with soft notes of stone fruit, gentle minerality, and a lasting finish'

The Daily Mail FEMAIL team tried the rosé and while the wine was smooth, we couldn't easily detect the notes of stone fruit. In fact, it tasted quite bland

Meghan, 43, launched her lifestyle brand earlier this year, releasing the first products in April, which included a range of teas, a raspberry spread, and a wildflower honey with honeycomb

The FEMAIL team also reviewed her initial set of products, and found that Meghan's raspberry spread was too thin, too sweet, and very runny

Her hibiscus tea was extremely bitter with heavy notes of floral, with one taste tester comparing it to 'drinking lip balm'

As for her honey, we didn't enjoy the 'waxy' taste of the honeycomb or the super strong wildflower aftertaste