Celebrating Meghan Markle is a piece of cake for some — but not for the royal family.
On August 4, the Duchess of Sussex turned 42, and while she was able to celebrate the occasion early by going to see the “Barbie” movie with a group of girlfriends, there seemed to be something missing from the day: a public birthday shoutout from her in-laws.
However, one royal expert believes there’s a reason why the royal family stayed radio silent on Markle’s special day, and that’s because they may have run the risk of looking “fake.”
“I just think that they probably felt it looked a bit fake, given the whole world knows they’re not really speaking much at the moment,” royal historian Tessa Dunlop recently told UK’s OK! Magazine.
“I think it would have looked a bit disingenuous, probably to slap photos up there with really no noticeable communication going on behind the scenes,” she continued.
The royal family did not publicly mark Meghan Markle’s birthday this year. Getty Images
According to royal expert Tessa Dunlop, the royals didn’t wish Markle a happy birthday over fears of looking “fake.” Getty Images
The couple took a step back from their roles as working royal family members in 2020. Getty ImagesDunlop also added that she thinks there’s been a “firmer line drawn in the sand” between the Sussexes and the royal family, especially off the heels of Prince Harry’s bombshell January tell-all memoir, “Spare,” and their December Netflix docu-series, “Harry & Meghan.”
In both of the projects, the couple made many allegations about the royal family — including Prince Harry’s claim in “Spare” that his brother, Prince William, 41, physically “attacked” him during a spat over Markle before they stepped down from their roles as senior royals in 2020.
Markle also told her alleged side of the story to Oprah in a sit-down interview, which aired in March 2021.
Last year, when The Duchess turned 41, Kensington Palace did wish her a happy birthday on their official Twitter account, sharing a photo of the royal.
Dunlop also noted that the royal family seemed to have a better relationship with Markle and Prince Harry last year. Getty Images
The couple currently resides in Montecito, California. Getty Images for 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala
The Palace wished Meghan Markle a happy birthday last year. MEGABut Dunlop speculates that was because there was more of a relationship between the family members at that time, as they had even traveled to England to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee that year.
“It was a reminder that actually, it tips into new ground compared to last August, yeah we’ve had Oprah but we’ve also had a pretty successful Platinum Jubilee, the Sussex’s attended, they modestly made an appearance and didn’t do anything distracting or what would seem to be in any way to upstage the Queen so it all went quite well,” Dunlop told the outlet.
A rep for the royal family told TMZ that they don’t mark every birthday for each member of the royal family.
The Post reached out to representatives for Markle and Kensington Palace for comment.
Markle recently turned 42. Getty Images
Markle reportedly went to go see the “Barbie” movie with her friends for a birthday celebration. Getty ImagesDespite the lack of public well-wishes from the royals this year, it seemed that Markle had a great time celebrating her 42nd.
She was spotted stepping out with her husband for dinner at Tre Lune in Montecito, wearing a chic, black-and-white striped tube dress by the brand Posse.
The trendy Italian eatery has attracted celebs like Kevin Costner, Kenny Loggins, and Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker.
And, after she saw the “Barbie” movie with her pals, including Portia De Rossi, she kept the party going by joining friends at the luxe San Ysidro Ranch hotel in Santa Barbara.
On her actual birthday, Page Six caught wind that she spent the day at home with her husband and their two children, Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2.
