The British royal family has paid their social media dues, wishing Meghan Markle a happy birthday on Wednesday. The messages came from the official Twitter accounts of the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge as well as the Royal Family page.
The Internet responded to Markle’s 40th birthday in various ways, with social media users responding to the royal family’s messages, both welcoming and criticising them.
Some thought that Twitter birthday wishes were a nice gesture on the part of Prince William and his wife Kate, while others noted that mentioning someone’s age may not be the best of ideas.
Meghan Markle, who married Prince Harry in 2018 and has since moved to the US in a controversial break with the royal family, shares her birthday with the Queen Elizabeth's late mum, The Queen Mother.
Queen Elizabeth was born the Honourable Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon on 4 August 1900. She married The Duke of York, Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George in 1923 and subsequently had two children, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.
Another public figure who shares Meghan Markle's birthday is the former President of the United States, Barack Obama.
This year, he will reportedly celebrate his 60th birthday at his multi-million dollar home in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. On Monday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that Mr. Obama's party, an outdoors event and in a “moderate zone” of Covid-19 cases, would follow all local and federal health protocols.
Markle's relationship with the British royal family has gone through ups and downs over the past couple of years. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, as well as the Duke’s appearance on an Apple TV+ show and several podcasts, has already cast an unflattering light on the monarchy.
The couple have, however, named their new daughter 'Lilibet' after Queen Elizabeth II and have reportedly been upholding good relations with the monarch.