Duchess celebrates privately in California while royal silence continues
Meghan Markle spent her 44th birthday on Monday, August 4, with her family in California, but the day passed without any public acknowledgment from the Royal Family — a pattern that has been held since she and Harry stepped down as working royals in 2020.
One of Meghan's most high-profile tensions during her time in the Palace involved senior aide Jason Knauf. According to Valentine Low's book Courtiers, the fallout began when Meghan failed to inform Knauf that she was attending an award ceremony, a move described as deliberately undermining him in a "very public way."
The tension escalated in December when Meghan attended the British Fashion Awards to present an honor to her wedding dress designer, Clare Waight Keller, without Knauf's involvement. Around the same time, she was seen publicly with her new aide, Christian Jones, even as Knauf remained in his role.
Knauf eventually left the Sussexes' team to work for William and Catherine, serving as chief of communications at Kensington Palace before becoming a trustee for the Prince of Wales's Earthshot Prize.
The strained history with one of William's closest allies adds another layer to the long-standing rift between Meghan and the Palace — a divide underscored by the continued absence of royal birthday messages.
