On Tuesday, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, conveyed a message of appreciation via her official Instagram account in recognition of her 44th birthday, which she observed the previous day, Monday.
The actress-turned-member of the Royal Family shared an image depicting herself with eyes closed, appearing to blow out the candles on her birthday cake. Accompanying the photograph was a caption in which she expressed gratitude to her spouse, Prince Harry, as well as to close friends and family members, stating: “Blowing out the candles on a beautiful 24 hours, and thanking my husband, friends and family for making it so special.”
She further extended her acknowledgment to members of the public who have offered support, adding: “To those of you I don’t know, but who send love every day — thank you so much. Please know I feel it and appreciate it ❤️.”
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, offered a behind-the-scenes insight into her recent birthday celebrations, following public commentary by actress Pamela Anderson regarding alleged similarities between Meghan’s forthcoming culinary program, With Love, Meghan, and Anderson’s own series, Cooking With Love.
In a lighthearted statement, the Duchess remarked that she intended to “get a little foodie on” her audience, revealing that her birthday festivities took place at Funke, a renowned restaurant located in Beverly Hills. The establishment is widely recognized for attracting high-profile clientele, including but not limited to Kim Kardashian, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, and Matt Damon.
The distinguished Beverly Hills restaurant Funke, operated under the leadership of head chef and co-owner Evan Funke—previously recognized for his work at Felix Trattoria in Los Angeles—has rapidly established itself as a premier dining destination since its opening in January 2023.
The establishment has secured a listing in the prestigious Michelin Guide and was ranked 25th on the Los Angeles Times’ “101 Best Restaurants in LA” list. Notably, in October, the venue was selected as the site of Ms. Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Skin product launch event, attended by her husband, Mr. Justin Bieber. Additionally, Ms. Kim Kardashian hosted her 43rd birthday celebration at the restaurant the preceding year.
In a public caption accompanying a birthday post, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, expressed her profound appreciation for the culinary experience, referring to the meal as “one of the top five meals of my life” and describing it as “extraordinary.” She extended thanks to Chef Funke and his staff for delivering a superlative dining occasion.
In the accompanying photograph, the Duchess was attired in an elegant white ensemble embellished with rhinestones as she leaned forward to extinguish the candles on her birthday cake. The dessert appeared to be meringue-frosted and finished with a golden-brown torching technique, adorned with floral decorations.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, published a series of personal acknowledgments via social media in response to birthday tributes shared by close acquaintances, including members of her social circle in Montecito—commonly referred to as the “Montecito moms”—as well as colleagues from her tenure on the television series Suits.
Among those who publicly commemorated the occasion were Ms. Abigail Spencer, a former co-star on Suits; Ms. Kelly McKee Zajfen; Ms. Tracy Robbins; and Ms. Jamie Kern Lima. These individuals posted messages to Instagram on Monday containing high praise for the Duchess, referring to her as “pure magic” and likening her to “sunshine in a bottle.”
In an uncommon public gesture, the Duchess engaged directly with these posts, offering reciprocal expressions of affection. Ms. Spencer, who shared her own birthday on the same day, described Meghan as “Champagne in human form” and referred to her as a “sister in this life and beyond.” In response, Meghan replied: “Thank you, sweet Abs! Right back at you, and happy birthday to YOU! 44/4”, referencing the coincidence of both turning 44 on the fourth day of the month.
Ms. Kelly McKee Zajfen, a former model and co-founder of the non-profit Alliance of Moms, has maintained a long-standing friendship with the Duchess, which reportedly dates back to an introduction through Meghan’s former spouse, Mr. Trevor Engelson.
Ms. Zajfen shared a previously unseen black-and-white photograph of herself and Meghan standing beside a fountain, laughing. In the image, the Duchess is seen wearing a designer chain print dress by Veronica Beard, valued at approximately $635.#newsafro_
