MEGHAN Markle is turning 39 today, and will use her birthday to "reflect on the past year."
Each year the Duchess of Sussex uses the time to think about her future, a tradition that is inspired by her mum Doria Ragland.
Meghan revealed the sweet habit in 2016 on her now-deleted lifestyle website The Tig when she wrote: “My mom has always said that birthdays are your own personal New Year.
"Your own chance to make resolutions just for yourself and what you prognosticate for your year ahead."
She continued to say she wishes for "More surprises, more adventure, more opportunities to grow, more days filled with giggles and cheeky jokes, more delicious meals, and more inspiration. Always more inspiration.”
Her reflective stance may be the result of years of crippling self-doubt.
She confessed on her blog: "My 20s were brutal – a constant battle with myself, judging my weight, my style, my desire to be as cool/as hip/as smart/as 'whatever' as everyone else.
"My teens were even worse – grappling with how to fit in, and what that even meant. My high school had cliques: the black girls and white girls, the Filipino and the Latina girls.
"Being biracial, I fell somewhere in between. So everyday during lunch, I busied myself with meetings – French club, student body, whatever one could possibly do between noon and 1pm- I was there. Not so that I was more involved, but so that I wouldn’t have to eat alone."
She confessed that it wasn't until the age of 33 in 2014 she had learned to be at peace with herself.
Meghan wrote: “And I am happy. And I say that so plainly because, well…it takes time. To be happy. To figure out how to be kind to yourself. To not just choose that happiness, but to feel it.
"So for my birthday, here’s what I would like as a gift: I want you to be kind to yourself. I want you to challenge yourself.
"I want you to stop gossiping, to try a food that scares you, to buy a coffee for someone just because, to tell someone you love them…and then to tell yourself right back. I want you to find your happiness."
The Queen, Kate Middleton and Prince William have today wished Meghan a happy 39th birthday.
The Duchess of Sussex will ring in the big day in Los Angeles after a whirlwind 12 months that has seen her life transformed.
A year ago Meghan was a working member of the British royal family and living in the grounds of Windsor Castle with husband Harry and their son Archie.
But today they live in Los Angeles after breaking away from the monarchy for personal and financial freedom.
From March 31, Harry and Meghan stopped using their HRH styles and ceased to be senior working royals, in favour of being able to earn money.
The couple moved to America with their 14-month-old son just a few weeks before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the globe, and like everyone else have been living under lockdown.
Birthday celebrations are likely to be low-key as the state of California they now call home reportedly has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in America.
While The Duchess of Sussex will mark her 39th birthday today it's an important day for the entire royal family – especially the Queen.
Eagle-eyed royal fans will note that while August 4 is Meghan's special day, it's also the birthday of another member of the royal family.
The Queen Mother, Elizabeth, was also born on the same date, in 1900.
When Meghan turned 37, she spent the day celebrating the wedding of Prince Harry's close childhood friend Charlie van Straubenzee and his bride Daisy Jenks in Surrey.
Meanwhile, last year she had a low-key celebration at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.
And we told you how Meghan said all she wanted was the gift of "kindness" and "happiness" for her birthday.
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