Clown prince (and pals) make Meghan’s birthday
SENDING out a serious birthday message proved a bit of a juggling act for the Duchess of Sussex yesterday – thanks to the antics of husband Prince Harry.
Drinking a cup of tea to toast her 40th, she launched a scheme to encourage people to devote 40 minutes of their time to help and mentor women returning to work.
But in a short film about the 40x40 initiative, she gets the giggles when she is interrupted by the clown prince juggling balls outside her window.
Meghan – filmed at a desk with her pet beagle Guy close by
– also has a laugh with comedy actress
Melissa McCarthy, who suggests they get tattoos of each other’s faces and holds up a design.
The Duchess tells the Bridesmaids star:
“But you know I already have something really similar across my back.”
A host of other celebrities and activists will set aside 40 minutes to support the 40x40 project, including singer-songwriter Adele, fashion designer Stella McCartney and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, wife of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. Meghan said: “Because I’m turning 40 I’m asking 40 friends to donate 40 minutes of their time to help mentor a woman who is mobilising back into the workforce.
“Over two million in the US alone and tens of millions around the world have lost their jobs due to Covid and I think, if we all do it and all commit 40 minutes to some sort of act of service, we can create a ripple effect.”
In a written statement the Duchess, who worked for 72 days as a royal before announcing her decision to quit, said “time” is
“among our greatest and most essential gifts”, especially “time spent in service to others”.
Meghan and Harry are believed to have planned a low-key 40th celebration at their home in Montecito, California.
The rest of the couple’s royal patronages are expected to be handed to other royals. And the Duchess of Cambridge is set to take Harry’s Rugby Football Union role.