Harry and Meghan are shying away from the spotlight for the prince’s 37th birthday this year and will mark the occasion with an intimate dinner instead, DailyMail.com can reveal.
A source close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex says the couple have opted for a small and more relaxed celebration amid recent world events, and are now focusing on ‘being of service’ rather than being socialites.
‘Meghan is planning a low-key birthday dinner for Harry. In light of what’s happening in the world – from Afghanistan to Covid – they both decided to keep it simple,’ the insider told DailyMail.com.
‘Meghan said they she’s making a carrot cake with the help of Archie, and that guests will include Doria and a few close friends.
‘Meghan said their focus right now is being of service, and that attending glitzy events like the MET Gala is wasted time and energy that could be put to good use towards those suffering and in need,’ the source added.
Meghan Markle is planning a ‘low-key dinner’ for Prince Harry for his 37th birthday Wednesday and will make a carrot cake with the help of two-year-old Archie (pictured) sources told DailyMail.com
The Queen led birthday wishes to Prince Harry as he turned 37 on Wednesday, sharing a selection of photos highlighting her grandson’s charity efforts while he was a working royal
Harry and Meghan agreed to be the cover stars of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people which was released on the Duke of Sussex’s 37th birthday
Since their dramatic exit from the royal family last year, the Sussexes have created a new brand for themselves in the US, using their platform for charity work and advocacy, particularly mental health initiatives, rather than for fame.
The couple also chose to forgo lavish party celebrations for Meghan’s 40th birthday last month and instead used the day to announce her new charity project.
The Duchess of Sussex shared a video on the website of her charitable foundation, Archewell, on August 4 promoting her ’40×40′ initiative encouraging people to donate 40 minutes of their time to help someone else or to mentor someone in need.
‘For my birthday I have asked 40 friends, activists, athletes, artists and world leaders to help kick off a global effort by contributing 40 minutes of mentorship to support women re-entering the workforce,’ Meghan said.
‘With this time, I hope they each help someone advance a professional life on her own terms and I hope that they inspire countless others to give 40 minutes of their time as well.’
But despite their hopes to keep things low-key for Harry, the royal couple were back in the headlines on his birthday on Wednesday when they were splashed across the cover of Time Magazine’s ‘World’s 100 Most Influential People’ issue.
Prince William and Kate Middleton kept their message simple, posting a solo portrait of the Duke with the caption: ‘Happy birthday Prince Harry,’ and a red balloon emoji
A source close to the royal couple said the couple have decided to ‘keep it simple’ in light of recent world events, and will host a few friends
The publication released a glossy and heavily-airbrushed cover showing the Duke of Sussex standing behind his wife with his arms on her right shoulder.
Harry is dressed in all black and Meghan in white on a terrace at their $14.65million mansion and estate in Montecito, California, as Time said they couple are ‘blessed through birth and talent, and burned by fame’, adding: ‘It would be much safer to enjoy their good fortune and stay silent.’
In another image they are in matching grey office-style clothes next to a window in pictures taken by Serbian Pari Dukovic.
But one critic, a fellow photographer, tweeted: ‘Terrible retouching job. They look CGI.’
Others wrote: ‘This photo looks photoshopped. Also, the way they are positioned is very revealing: it’s the Meghan show and Harry is just the supporting actor’. One critic said: ‘Harry looks completely awkward peering behind his wife like this’.
Harry and Meghan smile as their walk through their Californian estate in a photoshoot branded ‘awkward’ and ‘photoshopped’
In another image they are in matching grey office-style clothes next to a window in outfits chosen by celebrity stylists Clare and Nina Hallwroth, who have recently dressed Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston
The glossy photos are accompanied by a gushing profile, branded sycophantic by critics, written by their friend and chef José Andrés, whose charity World Central Kitchen is loved by the Sussexes and supported by their Archewell foundation.
He wrote: ‘In a world where everyone has an opinion about people they don’t know, the duke and duchess have compassion for the people they don’t know. They don’t just opine. They run toward the struggle.’
There is no mention of Harry and Meghan’s rift with the Royal Family or the series of bombshell interviews including the one with Oprah where they accused a mystery royal of racism towards Archie and said aides ignored Meghan when she was pregnant and suicidal.
The Duke, 37, and Duchess of Sussex, 40, are ‘making very little progress’ in reconciling with the royal family, the author of Finding Freedom has claimed
On the cover Harry is dressed in all black and Meghan in all white on a terrace at their $14.65million mansion and then in green smiling at each other and holding hands while walking through their estate in Montecito, California.
Harry’s family put their problems aside as the Queen sent best wishes to Prince Harry on his 37th birthday, sharing a selection of photos highlighting her grandson’s charity efforts while he was a working royal.
The Duke of Sussex, who has quit royal duties and is currently living in an £11m mansion in California also received birthday greetings from the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Poignantly, Prince Charles shared throwback photos with his younger son, amid a rift that Harry made public during his bombshell interview with Oprah.
Meanwhile, Prince William and Kate Middleton kept their message simple, posting a solo portrait of the Duke with the caption: ‘Happy birthday Prince Harry,’ and a red balloon emoji.