Inside Meghan Markle’s 2021 inner circle: Priyanka Chopra, Adele and even Princess Eugenie make the Duchess of Sussex’s ‘friends list’, but why not Oprah Winfrey and Jessica Mulroney?

Aug 7 , 2021

Meghan Markle called on famous friends Edward Enniful, Adele, Princess Eugenie and Priyanka Chopra to help her celebrate her 40th. Photos: @Edward_Enninful; @priyankachopra; @archewell_hm/Instagram, Handout

During a jokey video call with Melissa McCarthy, Meghan announced a new initiative with 40 of her friends for her 40th birthday – but not everyone made the cut

Among the 40 friends helping out is new California neighbour Adele, British Vogue editor Edward Enninful and Gabrielle Union, but where was Oprah Winfrey?

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, reached a milestone this week when she celebrated her 40th birthday on Wednesday, August 4. And while we’re not aware of any lavish A-list celebrations in Hollywood, Meg marked the occasion with a video asking her celebrity friends to help women get back to work as pandemic lockdowns ease.

Meghan Markle decided to celebrate her 40th birthday by inviting 40 of her friends to mentor 40 women heading back into the workforce. Photo: @archewell_hm/Instagram

The two-minute video shows Markle joking with actress Melissa McCarthy, and comes two months after she gave birth to second child Lilibet.

“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,” says the duchess.

The couple’s dog sleeps nearby as Meghan Markle video calls Melissa McCarthy to explain her project. Photo: @archewell_hm/Instagram

The list of 40 “friends” includes everyone from A-list actress Gabrielle Union, to spiritual icon Deepak Chopra.

Most interestingly, the list revealed a lot about Markle’s actual inner friendship circle. While some of the usual suspects like Priyanka Chopra made the list, newcomers like Adele were confirmed while controversial names like Jessica Mulroney were left off.

Meghan Markle and Melissa McCarthy goof around for most of the video before explaining the initiative. Photo: @archewell_hm/Instagram

Here are the close friends Markle kept on speed dial to recruit for her new birthday project …

Priyanka Chopra

Chopra, who is married to singer Nick Jonas, has remained one of Markle’s closest friends since her early Hollywood days. She has always been fiercely protective of Markle, and it seems Markle is still happy to align herself publicly with the Indian actress.

Fame and celebrity

Icons and Influencers

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Royalty

Social media

Feminism

Meghan Markle

Oprah Winfrey

Andre Neveling

South African-born Andre joined SCMP STYLE’s Hong Kong office as Senior Digital Content Manager in 2020 after working at some of the world’s biggest media companies in the UAE, Singapore and the UK. When he’s not behind the velvet rope rubbing shoulders with the A-list, you’re likely to find him sampling local beers and searching for Insta-hot spots during his travels.

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