The Duchess of Sussex is likely to enjoy a private gathering for her 43rd birthday with her close friends and family, but she has reportedly been excommunicated from members of the Windsor clan.

Despite not hearing from Windsor, there’s no shortage of love for Markle who will be surrounded by her immediate family and “nearest and dearest.” 

Former royal butler Grant Harrold, who served King Charles for seven years, added that the Duke of Sussex will probably prepare a barbecue at home for his wife on her birthday.

“He’s a gentleman and he cooks real good. He’s old school like that,” Harrold said.

“They may have a party, they do enjoy summer BBQs outdoors so they might invite friends round for a dinner or a bbq,” he said, adding that the duke “will make sure that Meghan is celebrated.”

However Prince Harry’s relationship with the rest of the royal family is still strained. The tension came to a head when the Sussexes left their roles as working senior royals in 2020 and moved to the US, giving up positions of privilege. 

Harrold thinks that despite the lack of communication between the Sussexes and other members of The Firm, Meghan can still expect something on her birthday from Prince William and Kate.

“I have no doubt of that,” he said. “Whether it be electronically, a phone call or a birthday card is hard to say with the ongoing rift.”

“I also think the King and Queen will send their birthday wishes, they will rise above everything that has happened because at the end of the day, they are still family,” the former royal staffer added.

“I don’t think that will change certainly despite everything that’s happened.”

The palace insider also said that Meghan is not unlikely to be surprised by a royal delivery from the palace and feels comforted in some part.

“They may send a gift as well, but given everything that has happened, there might not be,” he adds. “If they were all still getting on I can imagine it would be a piece of jewelry or something from the royal collection, possibly a hand-me-down from the late Queen.”

“They say blood is thicker than water so I think all the family will send their wishes and possibly a gift,” he added.

Harrold also took issue with the likelihood of Meghan commenting on public birthday messages from her fans, saying she should not expect them at all.

“I doubt there will be any public wishes made, they used to post on social media but that hasn’t happened in the past few years and I doubt that will change,” he said on behalf of Slingo.

Instead, the royal family were silent on Meghan’s 42nd birthday last year, different from the year before.