Prince William and Kate Middleton are the first to wish Meghan Markle happy birthday

Prince William and Kate Middleton led well-wishes to Meghan Markle on her 40th birthday. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a photo of their sister-in-law in Australia in 2018 with the caption: ‘Wishing a happy 40th birthday to the Duchess of Sussex!’ 

The photo, taken during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s royal tour, shows Meghan smiling on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, wearing a flowing striped maxi dress and a faux lei necklace. She was pregnant with son Archie at the time.

The photo has been interpreted by royal fans as a small signal of the Cambridges’ desire to repair their relationship with the Sussexes. 

Prince William and Prince Harry, who were once inseparable, have grown apart in the 18 months since Harry and Meghan’s decision to quit the royal family and move to the US. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s recent string of TV and podcast interviews has reportedly put the relationship under further strain. 

Prince William and Prince Harry were last seen together at the unveiling of the Princess Diana memorial statue in the gardens of Kensington Palace last month. The intimate ceremony marked what would have been Diana’s 60th birthday. 

Before that the brothers had last come face-to-face at the funeral of their grandfather Prince Philip, which took place just weeks after Harry and Meghan’s explosive Oprah Winfrey interview.  

Page Six suggests Prince Harry is preparing to whisk his wife off on an ‘intimate getaway’ to mark her 40th, rather than the lavish party for 65 people that was previously reported.

Royal experts have also speculated that the Sussexes may choose to release an eagerly-anticipated family photo to mark the special occasion. Fans are still waiting to catch a glimpse of Lili, who was born in June.