Meghan Markle’s Milestone 45th Birthday Snubbed by Royal Family, Experts Say

In the wake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent visit to the United Kingdom, it seems the icy relationship with King Charles III is thawing. However, royal watchers shouldn’t anticipate any ostentatious displays for the Duchess of Sussex’s birthday. Markle, who gained fame on the television series “Suits,” is turning 45 shortly after her children, Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie, made their long-awaited visit to Highgrove House to meet Charles and Queen Camilla in July. As this renewed connection sparks curiosity, many are left wondering how the royal family plans to acknowledge Meghan’s birthday on August 4.

According to royal commentator Tom Sykes, who spoke to Page Six on Meghan’s big day, there would certainly be some type of gesture from Charles. “The king is a scrupulously polite man, and I’m quite certain he would wish to send his daughter-in-law his birthday wishes,” he told the outlet. Royals expert Kinsey Schofield concurred, but believed the As Ever owner should temper her expectations and to expect Charles to send a “modest gift ‘through his staff,'” as Page Six wrote. Charles and Camilla may extend their birthday wishes, albeit privately, but Sykes added that it’s unlikely that Prince William and Princess Catherine would follow suit.

A few days leading up to the occasion, royal correspondent Jennie Bond shared insights with the Mirror, suggesting that if relations between Charles and Meghan are amicable, a phone call or birthday card might be expected. Bond emphasized the importance of Meghan joining the Highgrove visit, noting, “The children deserve to see some family harmony: it would have been damaging to have to explain that their mother wasn’t invited.” Before this family gathering, there was no shortage of speculation regarding potential tensions between Meghan and the royals.

In the lead-up to the anticipated reunion with King Charles III, rumors swirled about whether Meghan Markle and the children would accompany Prince Harry on his transatlantic trip. Tensions were reportedly high in May as whispers of palace drama emerged when Harry purportedly made demands concerning Meghan’s reception at Buckingham Palace. An insider told Heat World, “Harry has been coming in with all these demands on behalf of Meghan, and it’s already rubbing a lot of palace aides up the wrong way.” Despite the undercurrent of unrest, King Charles appeared willing to embrace the visit. “King Charles is looking forward to welcoming the Sussexes this summer, but Prince Harry is extremely nervous over how Meghan will be received,” the source added.

Around that same time, Meghan seemed to send a subtle message to Charles and the family that she and Harry wanted to reconnect to their royal lifestyle. For Prince Archie’s 7th birthday in May, she made an Instagram post that featured a throwback photo of her son as a baby sleeping on Harry’s chest at the royals’ Frogmore Cottage — back when the Sussexes were part of the royal family. The timing of the post, as Meghan and the kids were presumably gearing up to visit grandpa, seemed to be a tiny olive branch.

The previous year, Prince Harry and Meghan did not reach out to mend fences, notably skipping any public acknowledgment of Charles’ birthday in November 2025. In contrast, Prince William and Princess Catherine took a moment to send their best wishes to the king.