As the Duchess of Sussex blows out her birthday candles tomorrow, surrounded by her family, she may well pause to reflect on her many blessings, as well as a year of ups and downs.
Meghan certainly has plenty to celebrate when she turns 45 on 4 August. She enjoys an idyllic lifestyle in California with her husband, the Duke, and their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, while her professional life has been given a boost by the news that her recent appearance as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia resulted in the show's highest-ever ratings.
Fresh from a family holiday in the UK and Portugal, a sun-kissed Meghan stepped out in Los Angeles last week for a screening of Cookie Queens, a new documentary about Girl Scouts made by Archewell Productions, the production company founded by Meghan and Prince Harry.
Birthday plans
A friend tells HELLO! that the Duchess was planning to mark her birthday by enjoying "a chilled day surrounded by loved ones". Once the celebrations are over, her focus is likely turn to the future as she and Harry continue to navigate their financially independent lives outside the royal fold.
Since the couple stepped down as working royals six years ago, Meghan's business ventures have ranged from TV and podcasts to fashion and her lifestyle brand As Ever, with speculation that she could even make a return to acting. So, what might the Duchess do next?
"Meghan remains one of the most talked-about women in the world and, love her or loathe her, she has an undeniable ability to attract attention," the brand and culture expert Nick Ede tells HELLO!. "For broadcasters, that level of interest is invaluable. It proves that her celebrity status is still incredibly powerful, even if opinions about her remain divided.
"She has explored several different avenues, but audiences are still trying to understand exactly what her long-term identity is. Rather than launching another new venture, I'd like to see her focus on one area and build genuine authority," he continues.
© Variety via Getty Images"She could be a powerful celebrity Duchess"
"Lifestyle works when it feels authentic, but it needs to be rooted in her own experiences rather than aspiring to perfection. The strongest personal brands evolve steadily, rather than constantly reinventing themselves."
Although her Netflix lifestyle show With Love, Meghan and her Spotify podcast Archetypes – both produced in partnership with Archewell – were cancelled, the public relations expert Mark Borkowski believes that there is still scope for her to succeed in this field, if she lets others take the lead.
"I would have another crack at getting it right with a good team to make documentaries and lifestyle TV that are really good and where Meghan can use her best assets," he says. "If you look at Barack and Michelle Obama and Sir Richard Branson, they have top production people. The quality has got to come from the team, not from what she thinks is good."
He adds: "If lifestyle is what she's about, she needs a strong relationship with a recognised retail partner."
Reconciling with the royal family
Mark also believes that reconnecting with the royal family and the UK is key to the success of the Sussex brand – something that Harry and Meghan made tentative steps towards last month, when they took Archie and Lilibet to visit the King and Queen at Highgrove.
"There is huge value in Brand Sussex"
"The important thing is some level of rapprochement to try to create some healing with the royal family," he says. "Meghan needs a critical friend who will advise her to eat humble pie and look at a gradual return to Britain.
"She could be a powerful celebrity Duchess, but not a working royal, if she could find purpose and help Harry have a more dignified relationship with Britain."
© Getty Images for W+PKeeping her business interests separate from those of her husband is a "smart move", according to Nick, who points to the success of Sir David and Lady Beckham as a brand.
Following the Beckhams' lead
"It enables each of them to develop an individual identity," he says. "That said, there is huge value in Brand Sussex when they come together around shared values and purpose.
"The Beckhams work because David and Victoria have distinct careers but unite around family, loyalty and entrepreneurship. Authenticity is what makes a couple's brand endure.
"If Meghan consistently delivers engaging content and develops a clear identity independent of the royal story, she doesn't need reconciliation to succeed. It would certainly remove a major distraction, but the strength of her future brand will be built on trust, consistency and giving people a reason to stay interested beyond the headlines."
