So our favorite ex-royal just turned 40! How about that? It’s safe to say that everyone wishes to age as gracefully as Meghan Markle. Not only is this a milestone birthday for the Duchess but, it also marks a full year since she and her family settled into Montecito, California.
The cute family of three recently welcomed its fourth member, Lilibet Diana, who was born in June. Now how can a milestone so significant be left without a call to action for the community?
The 40×40 Initiative
Meghan Markle knows just how hard the pandemic has borne down on people, especially women. With tens of millions of women out of the workforce since 2020, research by the ILO indicates that fewer women will regain work than men as we recover from the pandemic.
To narrow the difference, the Duchess has enlisted the help of 40 friends, artists, athletes, and activists to offer 40 minutes of mentorship a day for the women seeking to rejoin the workforce.
The Big 4-0 Announcement
In true entertainer fashion, the former actress broke the news by way of a video call with comedian Melissa McCarthy. The announcement features the talented comedian attempting to guess what Markle had planned for her birthday, keeping the audience laughing with every guess. But that’s not all that made us laugh in the announcement.
Harry’s Big Surprise
Towards the end of the video, when McCarthy asks if Meghan was planning on throwing an afternoon tea party with her chickens, we could spot Harry through the window, who is going right at it with some juggling pins.
Who would’ve thought the Prince has juggling skills? Definitely not us. Just last year, we were surprised by the elder of the brothers, Prince William, also showcasing his juggling talents. Is it in the family? Maybe Prince Charles is next!
40×40 Participating Mentors
We’ve also seen a snapshot of the mentors participating in the 40×40 initiative. These include more stellar names like Adele, Gloria Steinem, Stella McCartney, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Deepak Chopra, Amanda Nguyen, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, José Andrés, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, and Amanda Gorman.
Wrapping It Up
Wednesday, August 4th, saw tons of celebratory messages across social media platforms marking the Duchess’s 40th birthday. And like every year, Markle has made sure to give back to the world in whatever capacity possible.
