Happy birthday to the Duchess of Sussex, who is 40 years old today. Barely any fuss in the American media, but the British media has been hyping Meghan’s birthday for weeks. They wanted to remind everyone that Meghan is the big 4-0, but they were also hoping to cause drama. The Sun ran this lengthy, hilariously stupid piece about what British people should expect from Meghan’s birthday, as in “who will send birthday greetings” and whether Meghan will post a photo of Lilibet Diana. As you can see at the end of this post, Kensington Palace, Clarence House and Buckingham Palace coordinated their happy-birthday messages to drop within five minutes of each other on Twitter (but not Instagram). I actually think Kensington Palace chose the nicest photo of Meghan, which is how you know staff did it and not the Keens. As for the British media’s dream of Lilibet’s first photo….
Meghan Markle could share a family photo with Lilibet to mark the proud mum’s 40th birthday in what would be the first glimpse of the eighth-in-line to the throne, royal experts have claimed. The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry welcomed their daughter into the world on June 4 but the newborn baby is yet to be seen.
Royal commentator Phil Dampier told The Sun Online: “I think it’s likely we will see a picture of the family. It wouldn’t surprise me, if Meghan does release a pic of her with Lilibet to mark her 40th birthday, as they’ll want to emphasise what a happy family unit they are. And it will be interesting to see what messages she gets from the royals – I suspect they will post messages, even though in private they are very upset about was has happened.”
But other royal experts have warned sharing a photo of their daughter could be in “bad taste”.
Richard Fitzwilliams, another royal expert, told The Sun: “The Sussexes are very unpredictable, but I think she will mark her 40th with something like a photo of Lili. I would expect something online, as they are very savvy about online posting, and their brand has a great many fans, and Meghan’s 40th is a very big milestone. I would say they would do something to play to their substantial number of fans, and be of worldwide interest, hence the conclusion we would see photos of Lili – I don’t know. Royal fans have been wanting to see a photo of her for some time.”
He was echoed by royal author Adam Helliker, who told The Sun he believed “it’s possible” a first pic of Lilibet will be released on Wednesday. But he warned that should that happen, it “would be slightly in bad taste, as it would be seen as helping to promote the Sussexes’ brand”. Mr Helliker said that “given the propensity for Harry and Meghan” to grab the limelight, “I wouldn’t be surprised if she released a photo of her with Lilibet to mark her 40th birthday”.
As of this moment, no new photos have gone up on Archewell and I’m not expecting anything other than a thank-you message for all of the birthday wishes, perhaps tied into a request to donate to a particular charity. I really don’t think we’ll be seeing a photo of Lili Montecito for some time. Maybe I’m wrong! I actually hope – like the British media – that we do get a family portrait at some point, but I’m also fine with them not giving us anything. These clowns are just desperate to get a photo so they can criticize the Sussexes for timing, for exploiting their kids, for yadda yadda yadda. These bozos still think they have a say in what the Sussexes do. They do not.
Here are the birthday messages from the palaces:
🎈 Wishing The Duchess of Sussex a very Happy Birthday today! pic.twitter.com/xvrRH4sEwX
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) August 4, 2021
Wishing The Duchess of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday. 🎈 pic.twitter.com/dCncyhMLrQ
— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) August 4, 2021
Wishing a happy 40th birthday to The Duchess of Sussex! 🎂 pic.twitter.com/qekFyLPmiD
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) August 4, 2021
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red.
She looks about 28. Her SKIN 😍
Absolutely. So freaking beautiful!
I literally feel like, with these posts, they are so far up her ass because they’ve realized…. they’ve got no other moves. The photos are beautiful, no funny business, all palaces sent wishes. They don’t have social media and don’t have to return the wishes on other people’s birthdays. Like they’ll continue to be awful people but I think they know they HAVE to play their cards right and it’s basically check-mate.
OMG – she is BREATHTAKING! She just glows from within.
I mean, I’m not giving them any cookies for doing the bare minimum here. Ignoring her birthday would have made them look even worse than they already do, and if they post birthday wishes on IG for other RF members and not her, then they still look petty and racist AF. As for the rotten rota and so-called experts, they can go suck some rotten eggs.
I went and liked the tweets because it hurts them when meghan gets more likes than the others. *shrugs shoulders*. I can be petty too
I did the same thing Pao lol
This is gonna be tricky for them. Will they take down any harassing or racist comments?
Will we see any negative Meghan stories later today? Performative caring or interest won’t work anymore?
They posted stories. Not actual posts. Clearly they don’t want her on their feed permanently.
God, she’s so pretty!!
Happy Bithday to Abigail Spencer as well her birthday twin as they call each other
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMDrYQzn1QE/
I read the comments.
I am now both dumber and sadder than I was when I woke up. I generally avoid comment sections other than here or Pajiba, and this just confirmed that this is an excellent rule I should continue to follow. Insanity.
I never read the comments. You should never with any famous black person. Sad, but true
Wow. I’m not really “into” Instagram so I never read the comments as I just can’t be bothered. (I joined just to look at Deux Moi.) After the above comments I clicked on Fortuona’s link and I was astonished. I did however enjoy that these people calling Meghan “non-pedigreed” etc. could not string together two coherent and grammatically correct sentences.
She’s glorious!!!!
I can’t find fault with ANY of the pictures chosen at all. My favorite is the one from Clarence House.
Happy Happy Birthday Duchess Meghan 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂💐💐💐
Happy BDay Duchess!!!
🥳🎉🥳🌸
I don’t see how any one photo is “nicer” than the others; they’re all lovely. I see no drama here. Hope she has a fabulous birthday.
HBD to her and Barack 😁. Long may we never see a photo of her beautiful babies. Let the rats rot waiting for a photo. A&L are private citizens and should be allowed to remain so.
Yeah, as much as I want to see Lili, I can wait. I would rather the RR’s stroke out from holding their breath for so long waiting for one.
LOL. I’m a little disappointed they didn’t stroke out ‘recoiling’ from Harry’s brown shoes.
Happy Birthday to Meghan!
As time passes w/out a pic, and the 🐀s get more apoplectic, I will enjoy their bitter, salty tears all the more.
I wouldn’t be surprised to get a Christmas pic with both kids on the beach. We did get that lovely snap of Archie, in front of the Christmas tree, crawling toward Meg’s friend (who took the pic). A b/w pic of the kids, in the Cali sunshine, on the beach, or from Harry’s Bench, taken from the back or side (no *clear* facial shot), with the dogs, would be very on brand for M&H.
i’m pretty sure the rota rats quoted in the article above are the same ones who ‘predicted’ they’d get a photo of lili for father’s day in june? lol
in most other professions, NOONE would get to keep their job if they constantly got this much wrong. #justsayin
She is so photogenic.
She is absolutely stunning. She needs to drop her skincare regime.
I’m *sure* her main ingredient is good genetics, with happiness running a close second 😉 She really can’t take a bad pic, can she? Really gorgeous.
I would love to know what serums and moisturizer she uses, and what kind of facials though!! She did say once Doria started her on facials when she was a pre-teen.
I’m obsessed with her beauty routine so I’ve collected most of her favorite makeup/skincare products, LOL.
She uses lots of Tatcha (her favorite is the Rice Polish), Kate Somerville, Jan Marini, Sarah Chapman products. Also the La Mer eye cream, and the Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask, which I want next but is a tad out of my price range at the moment now since it’s $172 for 2 ounces (maybe I’ll Afterpay it, haha!)
Thank you, Maria! 🤗💜
She’s also a fan of buccal massage/facial.
I legit need to know her skin care routine. I would copy ‘n’ paste in a second.
she’s such a star, it’s true.
some people just have *it* – it can’t be faked, it can’t be forced.
happy birthday meghan!!!💜
@ taris
My Mom says that “she’s lit from within”
I do not think I’ve seen a bad photo of her ever. I hope she has a wonderful birthday 🥳🎂🎉💐. I did find it hilarious some tabloids criticizing an unverified party, like it would have been “unforgivably selfish” during a pandemic with a newborn, when the entire BRF holidays 🙄..
So however The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan celebrates her 40th birthday I hope it is as special to her as she has been to so many.
Check out this feed: https://twitter.com/hashtag/MeghanMarkle40?src=hashtag_click
Invictus, Models of Diversity, and a lot of other great birthday wishes with some great pics of Meghan you may not have seen before. Scroll down for a great one with Meg and Doria. Really lovely.
Thank you for the link, (TheOG) Jan90067, they are all beautiful sentiments from every corner of the world and groups, including the Royal choir pitching in to wish Meghan a Happy Birthday!!
Meghan is truly loved and cherished in every corner of the globe, to those who live in Africa fighting for water, to those who are like us, everyday men and women.
Happy Birthday Duchess Meghan!! Plus, a shout out to my our wonderful President Barack Obama!! Both magnetic people changing the world one day and one action at a time!!
I’m pretty sure a bad photo of Meghan doesn’t exist, I’ve never seen one. I wish I had that super power.
Good lord, some of the responses on those tweets. “happy birthday to the queen mother!” yeah she doesn’t care what you say on twitter. It’s “nice” that they post these messages but it would be nicer if they had supported Meghan when she was a working royal. I wonder why they all went with Twitter and not IG?
Also I cannot roll my eyes hard enough at the idea that releasing a picture of Lili would be “in bad taste” because it would seem to be “building their brand.” WTF do they think the Cambridges release bday pictures of their children? the sole purpose in that is to build their brand.
I really am being to hate the word “brand”.. especially coming from trashy tabloid commentators.
These people are such a shit show of clownery. It’s her child, she can choose to share or not share pictures of her children whenever and however she wants. You know that they are are sitting there desperate for a picture of Lili. I hope Harry and Meghan keep them waiting until lili is 18
Happy birthday to the only duchess/princess I recognize. Wishing Meghan ,this beautiful, incredible,hard working woman of color and grace and dignity a very happy birthday. Enjoy your day with your love ones .
The RR’s are prepared to drag Meghan either way. She doesn’t release a photo of Lilli they will wonder why she is hiding her, she does and it’s in bad taste.
We all know the RR are DESPERATE for a photo of Lilli. I hope the Sussex’s continue to starve them.
I am LAUGHING now with her 40 for 40 campaign, because there’s no pic of Lili, they did build their brand in a way that helps other people, and it’s literally just a feel good story. In light of that, all of these comments look so pathetic.
Exactly!!! Like the RF are not the OG’s of brand management??? Or were Henry 8 and Elizabeth 1 and whoever else not spending time on every detail of their public portraits in an effort to… brand…
They are refereing to the Queen’s mother, she shares her birthday with Meghan, so they are throwing shade
Oh I know exactly who they were referring to when they say “the queen mother.” That’s why I said she doesn’t care what they are saying on twitter lol.
@Becks, lol.
Yeah I wonder why it’s Twitter and not insta too becks1. Idk if it matters but don’t they usually do bday wishes through insta?
Easier to delete tweets and (slightly?) less conspicuous than scrubbing their insta?
Lol or KP bought too many bots that would auto-generate hate comments if they posted on insta, but it would stand out too much if only KP tweeted, so all the RF are using twitter. We talked a few weeks ago how KP’s instagram account has somehow continued to increase their number of followers.
Why Twitter? If you are cynical, maybe its because the number of followers is way less than their IG account or easier to manage. Cambridge : 13M IG / 2.2M Twitter Royal : 10.3M IG / 4.6M Twitter. For the Cambrige, I would add they wanted to keep PG as their latest entry.
If they wanted to keep it pg they would have closed the comment section. Yeah they can still quote tweet but still
They posted the same birthday wishes in their IG stories, not main posts. Probably so they can avoid looking like they support her TOO much by just closing the comments.
Nahh i think william is still feeling the sting from a few weeks back when he was called a hypocrite for condemning racism on social media directed towards football players, but failing to do so when it was on his own social media page directed at his sister in law and his nephew.
This is about saving william dumb ass
If they felt that way they’d make a real post. All three IG accounts only posted it in their stories. They don’t want comments or reshares or anything and then it will go away in 24 hours the way they prefer.
So Harry, Archie and Lili got Instagram posts, but Meghan got an Instagram story which will disappear.
Sure looks that way. Gross.
So now sharing a photo of their daughter is in bad taste because it’s promoting their brand? Like the Cambridges don’t do the same thing for their children’s birthday? Such hypocrisy, the rota is salivating in the hopes that a photo will be released. Anyway, happy birthday to Meghan and l hope she has a wonderful celebration with her family and friends.
ETA l see Becks said basically the same thing above, great minds and all that.😁
Kate legit had that kate cuties thing with the daily mail simply for self promotion. Because lets be honest, the kids is all they got. But yeah releasing a photo of lili would apparently be in bad taste. These people man….
It’s apparent everything the UK press accuse Harry and Meghan of, it’s something the Cambridges are currently doing or have done in the past.
Especially considering the Cambridges had a entirr “happy family” photoshoot, as well as a commerical to go along with it. Mind you, UK press claimed that professionally filmed and edited commerical was “home video’.
You know that every single one of them are refreshing their phones like crazy as we speak, texting people, checking social media, sweating their arses off waiting to see if a photo gets released. The RR’s will all have a miserable day today because of it. I hope Meghan is sitting back with her feet up sipping something cold and delicious with a satisfied grin on her face.
They might have wished her a happy birthday but they haven’t been hiding the shady comments. They certainly weren’t doing this to be nice.
I would love a new picture of Meghan for her birthday and for the Sussexes to continue to not show us their kids. It’s for the best.
Lol, they’re so bitter. All actual Sussex news is broken by U.S. outlets now.
It wouldn’t matter that they didn’t post on IG except for the fact that all three palaces posted for Archie’s birthday. A post for the child but not for the mother is questionable. When Harry’s birthday rolls comes in Sept. if they do a post for him. Then it is clearly an attempt to be petty and single Meghan out. IMO. They didn’t do a post because they knew their comment section would be a cess pool( they couldn’t get away with allowing that the way they have done in the past so instead of they the IG story where the racism can be hidden. They could have posted and closed comments but that would have been acknowledging that there is a problem with how people post about Meghan ad they don’t want to acknowledge that.
Exactly. Sticking their heads in the sand and pretending there’s nothing to see here is their M.O. and always will be. WE SEE YOU THOUGH. Happy birthday to the only Duchess that matters!
Happy Birthday Meghan!
The KP pic was probably posted by Meghan and Harry’s former social media guy. Their best wishes after Lili’s birth was unusually warm and it was probably because he made that post as well.
The British press are thirsty for a picture of Lili. I don’t think we will get a photo of her any time soon and it’s already been leaked by Camilla Tominey that some charity announcement is going to made later on today.
What, Camilla Tominey is STILL leaking about the Sussexes? My my my!!🙄🙄
She is the last person I would believe about anything to do with the Duke or Duchess of Sussex..
Given the history of charity donation of the Sussex’s and the fact that Twitter had one fundraising 40th for one of her favorite charities already, it kind of seems like a, “no surprise there” speculation.
This woman needs to leave the Sussex’s alone and their names out of her bitter articles and focus on her isle and working Royals.
Edward ( the UK Vogue editor) posted on twitter about a charity initiative that Meghan is doing for her birthday. He quickly deleted it. Camilla saw the post and made that tweet. She has no inside info but she pretends she does.
Ginger, any idea why he felt the need to delete it so quickly?
Lady D, I believe Edward posted the tweet too early, before the initiative was officially announced. SInce he is on UK time, it was likely a slipup. Which is how Tominey Thee Liar got it.
I don’t think it’s a leak. I’m watching the Today Show and they just did a teaser. I’m sure a press release went out across the world and even the RRs got wind of it.
It’s posted now on Archewell. I’m assuming we’re going to cover it here.
I don’t see an issue with the pics they’ve chosen tbh. They all seem fine. And I also don’t think we’ll get a photo today. I can see one at Christmas as part of the card but I imagine it’ll be like last year where you don’t really see any features. Although it seems Vogue has something lined up (doesn’t seem to be a cover) with Meghan/Archewell. Happy Birthday Meghan!
I doubt there will be a pic of Lili in the next days. I guess more a tasteful snap of a plate with a piece of birthday cake or flowers that she got from Harry or something like that.
Not even that is happening. Plus, Meghan has said in the past that she prefers fries for her birthday.
Happy birthday Duchess. The rotten rota is thirsting for photos of the montecito royal babies. They can bugger off, there are enough photos of the cambridge children for them to salivate over. It is in bad taste if the sussexes babies photos are shown, but absolutely sweet, if they are of the cambridges; such brazen hypocrisy!
The royal households are making birthday wishes because of some backlash they got for blanking the Sussexes on their third anniversary and they sure still stinging from the Oprah interview. The BM is salty about a Lilies picture because a release is most likely be to US media.
Controversial opinion: I don’t find Meghan “unpredictable” at all. if anyone, its Harry. I find her calm and steady and strategic. If she was going to be capitalizing on this baby, she’d already have done a photo or two. Harry is the visible vocal one,, but of course she gets lumped in with that. While I didn’t always see this, I think she is the one that calms him down and soothes his turbulence.
Right on, Susan. Have always believed she has taken the blame for decisions made by Harry. She should be a Libra, the peacemaker and balancing act.
I don’t consider either one of them particularly unpredictable. I think the unpredictability idea comes from her/them not announcing projects until they are complete or almost complete. The RR are used to getting leaks about everything and then announcements that a project is being considered, is in the works, is maybe finished and so on. So, they have no idea what she is doing and then she just drops something out of the clear blue sky. It is unpredictable, but that doesn’t mean she is unpredictable. If that makes any sense.
I don’t think that’s particularly controversial and I agree with you. Maybe not unpredictable but Harry certainly had a youthful history of some impulsivity. HOWEVER he has grown and matured into a truly impressive adult public figure. I do think many of their decisions over the last 2 years were driven by him tho. It was his brewing unhappiness/anger at the situation that finally peaked with treatment of his wife and child. I honestly think if he had wanted to stay she would have tried to navigate it and peace make. It’s always annoyed me that she gets painted as leading him around by the nose when you can look at words out of the guys own mouth since he was practically a teenager and have known what was coming.
As much as my nosey *ss wants to see a pic of Lili, I hope they never release one. It will garner so much vitriol which neither she nor her parents need.
She looks so young! I always noticed how much that stood out in pics with all 4 of them. She’s the oldest but looks the youngest by several years.
The dress in the kp pic, she has that in two colors right?
No, she wore it on two tours. In Australia and South Africa.
She doesn’t have it in a lighter color way? Must be a similar looking but different dress I’m thinking of. The one with the high though slit…
I must have imagined the dress or saw a photoshopped pic cuz I just went through hundreds and didn’t find anything even close.
@Steph, you are probably remembering the light-colored, striped sundress with a high side slit. Meg wore it in Australia, when she and Harry were taking a stroll on an island boardwalk. I forget the name of the island. They greeted people in the community during a walkabout that same day.
Just dawned on me we were calling her Lil Montecito and she is Lili Montecito. Haaaaaa!
That is awesome!
Three well-behaved, coordinated birthday postings. Methinks that the palaces are finality listening to their crisis managers.
Happy Birthday, Meghan! May she and her family have a day filled with happiness and laughter!
Meghan posted something for her bday on Archewell, it’s a hilarious video with Melissa McCarthy where she asks people to donate 40 minutes of their time to mentor someone in light of how many women have lost their jobs due to COVID and are trying to reenter the workforce. You don’t see the kids but there are some shots of Meghan’s beagle sleeping next to her and at the end shots of Prince Harry juggling through the window as a funny blooper making Melissa laugh hysterically. This is the kind of thing I love seeing because you would never see William being this playful with Kate. The initiative is being called 40×40. Very on brand for Meghan. Happy birthday to our favorite duchess!
Cue Kate giving a message to show interest in her keenwell button factory on her 40th. Expect a cosplay of the fireplace
Her house and style looks so soothing!
Here it is – it’s wonderful!!! https://archewell.com/40×40/
Thanks for the link! That was fun. I love Melissa’s setup. And I love her!
OMG! I love that, what a surprise. I literally gasped at seeing her, since I so didn’t expect that. Love that idea and look forward to hearing more about it. She looks so beautiful.
Clarence house and Kensingon palace posted on Instagram but on their stories, not on the feed. God forbid anything permanent about Meghan gets on there.
And on Clarence house’s account they have a lovely, lengthy post about the Queen Mum so the difference is glaring.
They can all go to hell. Meghan’s (and Harry have) shown they don’t need their acknowledgment to thrive
How funny would it be if lots of people reported their accounts just to troll their staff 😂
As always – the Sussexes are the epitome of fun, classy, meaningful work. https://www.instagram.com/tv/CSJ19BwnE42/?utm_medium=copy_link
That was delightful! 💗
Happy birthday to Meghan. 40 looks so younger on her based on last time she was seen. I hope she enjoys a lovely day free of unhinged complaints from her stalkers across the pond.
She’s stunning, and her inner beauty makes her even more beautiful on the outside. Happy Birthday, Meghan!
Awwww she’s so pretty and glowy. I think she looks really good and gorgeous in all of the royal posts- but it just screams fake.
I know we say this daily but dang…. They could’ve had a bad chick. Their loss!
Happy 40th birthday to meghan, I hope she has an amazing day. 🎂💕
Once again the Sussexes have left the Cambridges in the dust. It’s never their intent to do that, but the Cambridges simply can’t put aside their jealousy and spite long enough to create something as meaningful, humorous and results-oriented as M&H do every time. And look who they got to work with! Melissa McCarthy!! Hey Willnot and Kannot…hope you’re enjoying your summer holidays…wherever separate vacation spots you’re visiting.
Duchess Meghan, I hope you read this site and are having the best birthday ever!
It’s a excellent initiative. I think it will be very impactful and I expect nothing less from Meghan every time she announces something.
I hope the Cambridges won’t be as tacky last year when they sent a photo of themselves with only Harry, to commemorate Harry’s birthday.