If you've ever wondered what turning 44 looks like when you're the Duchess of Sussex with a lifestyle brand to promote, Meghan Markle just delivered the masterclass. To mark her August 4 birthday, the As Ever founder treated her Instagram followers to a behind-the-scenes peek at the Californian celebrations: a shot of the duchess blowing out candles on a cake fittingly adorned with yellow flowers.
'Blowing out the candles on a beautiful 24 hours, and thanking my husband, friends and family for making it so special,' she wrote, before acknowledging her broader audience: '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.'
Her dinner at Funke LA apparently warranted a full review, with the duchess declaring it 'in the top five meals of my life.' Chef Evan Funke's handmade pasta earned the ultimate royal seal of approval: 'Extraordinary.'
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The real birthday gift for her fans, however, came in the form of business news. On the day of her birthday, As Ever, Markle's lifestyle brand, released its 2024 Napa Valley Rosé to coincide with her special day. Per the brand, the 2024 Napa Valley Rosé promises 'a graceful blush hue' with 'delicately balanced' notes that are 'reminiscent of the finest Provencal styles.' The label's last rosé release sold out within an hour.
To celebrate her 44th birthday, Markle re-wore a white embellished Valentino mini dress she first wore in 2021 at the Global Citizen Live festival in New York City, where she appeared with her husband, Prince Harry, to speak at the event.
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Naomi May is a seasoned culture journalist and editor with over ten years’ worth of experience in shaping stories and building digital communities. After graduating with a First Class Honours from City University's prestigious Journalism course, Naomi joined the Evening Standard, where she worked across both the newspaper and website. She is now the Digital Editor at ELLE Magazine and has written features for the likes of The Guardian, Vogue, Vice and Refinery29, among many others. Naomi is also the host of the ELLE Collective book club.
