The Floral Secret in Meghan Markle's Birthday Cake: A Mother-Daughter Tribute
Meghan Markle's 44th Birthday: A Day of Lavish Celebrations and Hidden Meanings
It was a day of pomp, circumstance, and behind-the-scenes gossip as Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, celebrated her 44th birthday in style. The mother-of-two marked another year around the sun with an extravagant celebration in California, complete with a lavish party at a celebrity-frequented restaurant, a stunning outfit change, and a sweet nod to her nickname "Flower" from her doting mother.
The Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram to share a photo from the party that depicted Meghan blowing out candles on a cake adorned with edible yellow flowers - a nod to the dishes she whipped up during her Netflix series With Love, Meghan. However, fans quickly pointed out another reason why Meghan's cake may have been decorated with flowers: it represents her long-standing nickname "Flower" given to her by her mother, Doria Ragland.
Meghan first revealed this adorable nickname in a blog post on her now-defunct lifestyle blog The Tig, where she shared that her mom has always referred to her as "Flower." During an episode of her canceled Spotify podcast Archetypes, Meghan even opened up about how much she adores the nickname and how it's been a constant source of comfort throughout her life.
As Meghan celebrated another year of life with her loved ones at Hollywood hotspot Funke in Beverly Hills, fans couldn't help but notice that she wore an elegant white Valentino shift dress - complete with flower appliqués - which she last sported to a charity concert in 2021. The $4,000 dress was a stunning choice for the occasion, and Meghan looked absolutely radiant as she leaned forward to blow out her candles.
Meghan's birthday party was truly an extravagant affair, with the Duchess treating herself to an "extraordinary" meal at Funke - a restaurant frequented by stars like Kim Kardashian, Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez, and Matt Damon. The mother-of-two shared a photo of herself sharing a laugh with her husband Prince Harry and their friends, as well as behind-the-scenes glimpses at the festivities.
In a heartwarming display of affection, Meghan's closest friends from her "Montecito moms" circle and her days as an actress on Suits took to Instagram to share tributes for her birthday. Close pals like Abigail Spencer, Kelly McKee Zajfen, Tracy Robbins, and Jamie Kern Lima all called the Duchess "pure magic," "like sunshine in a bottle," and even referred to her as their "sister in this life and beyond."
Meghan's long-time pal Abigail was the first to share a tribute to the Duchess, calling her "Champagne in human form." Meghan fired back with a sweet comment: "Thank you, sweet Abs! Right back at you, and happy birthday to YOU! 44/4" - a nod to their shared milestone birthday.
Meghan's make-up artist pal Daniel Martin also shared a sweet snap of the Duchess and her beagle Mia in the garden of her Montecito mansion, simply writing "HBD sis!" Kerry Washington, who has been friends with Meghan since 2013, added: "To this beautiful (inside and out) @meghan Love you so much!"
As Ever brand, Meghan's lifestyle company, took to Instagram with a black-and-white snapshot of the mother-of-two wearing a sundress and hat as she beamed into the distance. The caption enthused about Meghan and her role leading the company: "Celebrating the woman behind it all...She poured love, time and effort into curating this blend."
Just hours before sharing photos from her birthday party, Meghan teased a new product from her lifestyle brand As Ever on social media - a teaser for their 2024 Napa Valley rosé. The video showed Meghan frolicking in the grass at her Montecito estate near Santa Barbara, California, wearing a short white dress and showcasing her engagement ring, wedding ring, and an infinity ring estimated to be worth around £210,000.
As Ever's first wine went on sale on July 1 and sold out within the hour. However, the Daily Scholarly Note FEMAIL team tried the rosé and while it was smooth, they couldn't easily detect the notes of stone fruit. The verdict? The wine lacked flavor and tasted affordable and ordinary - not exactly what you'd expect from a fancy vineyard.
With her 44th birthday celebrations now behind her, Meghan is focusing on expanding her As Ever line with new products. But will her fans be as enthusiastic about these releases, or will they follow the Daily Scholarly Note FEMAIL team's lead and find them lacking in flavor? Only time will tell!