Meghan-Markle
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 11: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 11, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P)

Meghan Markle celebrated her 43rd birthday on August 4, with the Duchess of Sussex fêted with a private function attended by her immediate family and some of her closest friends. The Montecito-based royal was reportedly honoured with an “at-home cookout” organised by her husband, Prince Harry.

“He is a gentleman and a good cook,” a source revealed to the press about the intimate gathering. The anonymous insider also added that the couple “enjoy summer BBQs outdoors so they might invite friends round for a dinner” before acknowledging that Prince Harry will “make sure that Meghan is celebrated”.

As Markle gears up to launch her new lifestyle and cooking brand American Riviera Orchard—which is said to focus on home goods including edible treats like jellies, jams and spreads and tableware staples such as cutlery, table linens and drinkware—her lap around the sun seems like the perfect occasion to soft-launch her new product line. We’ll be refreshing the brand’s Instagram account for any intel.

MEGHAN MARKLE PRINCE HARRY
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 16: Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex leave The Ziegfeld Theatre on May 16, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/GC Images)

Markle also marked her birthday with a rare television appearance with Prince Harry. For their first joint interview in three years, the couple touched on their “amazing” young children, Prince Archie, 5 and Princess Lilibet, 3, and their new initiative, The Parents’ Network. Launched under the banner of their shared charity, Archewell Foundation, the new project offers support and resources to parents and guardians of children lost or affected by social media.

Last year, Markle opted for a more public-facing outing by attending a local Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara. For the outing, the Suits alum stepped out at the romantic bistro Tre Lune wearing an instantly covetable $259 dress from Australian label POSSE.

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Meghan Markle in Posse’s Striped ‘Theo’ Dress. Credit: Instagram/@Posse

The strapless bandeau maxi featured contrasting black and white stripes and a body-conscious shape. She paired it with T-Bar strappy sandals, a beaded clutch from Cult Gaia and accents of gold jewellery, including a Cartier Tank watch and Love bracelet.

Katie Holmes soon co-signed on the piece being the dress of the summer during an outing in New York. Knowing Markle, we can expect this year’s birthday outfit to come courtesy of Byron Bay-based brand St. Agni or The Row.