On August 4, 1981, Meghan Markle was born. In the 45 years since, she has become one of the most closely watched women in the world. How did the Duchess of Sussex celebrate the milestone?
Meghan reportedly opted for an intimate celebration, surrounded by her closest circle, including Prince Harry and their children, Archie and Lilibet. Instead of a big public party, the Duchess of Sussex chose to keep a low profile, though she did share a moment on Instagram Tuesday thanking the world for their birthday wishes and giving a hint as to how she’s spending the beginning of her next trip around the sun. In the photo, she leaps into a pool, birthday balloons in hand, with the caption, “Thank you for the birthday love.”
This anniversary coincides with the media frenzy sparked by her recent trip to the United Kingdom with Harry and their two children—a visit that seemed unlikely until the very last moment but ultimately became a reality. The Sussex family returned to the Harry’s home country for the first time in years on a trip steeped in symbolism, which included a long-awaited meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove, as well as other family moments enjoyed away from the spotlight.
But the Sussexes’ European trip didn’t end in the United Kingdom. Meghan took to social media to share, for the first time, some photos from her family’s summer vacation, with the simple caption “Summer Holiday.” Although she did not officially reveal the location of each photo, the images offered a glimpse into the Sussexes’ time in Portugal, where the couple reportedly enjoyed a few days of relaxation with Archie and Lilibet.
The snapshots include family scenes free from royal protocol: days at the beach, by the pool, and everyday moments with their children, whom the couple continues to protect from public exposure by avoiding showing their faces. Portugal’s Alentejo region has become one of the family’s go-to destinations for enjoying greater privacy.
One of the details that has drawn the most attention is a photo taken at Althorp House, the historic Spencer family residence where Harry’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, grew up and where she was laid to rest. The photograph shows Harry and his children walking through the estate’s gardens—a scene rich in meaning, as it allowed Archie and Lilibet to experience a place central to their paternal grandmother’s history.
The trip to the UK and the family vacation have demonstrated once again that Markle remains one of the figures most capable of generating international buzz. Her relationship with the royal family, her style, and her personal decisions continue to spark interest, even years after she and Harry stepped back from their official duties in historic fashion.
Originally published in Vanity Fair Spain.
