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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?

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

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.

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“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.

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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

Priyanka Chopra Jonas is a close friend of Meghan Markle’s and announced her support of Markle’s project on Instagram. Photo: AFP
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.

Chopra announced the initiative on Instagram, saying that, “For her 40th birthday this year, in true Meg fashion, she’s chosen to put the welfare of others first.”

Chopra even made headlines last month when she appeared to ignore her bestie’s “royal rivals” Prince William and Kate Middleton’s arrival to the Royal Box at Wimbledon, and again afterwards on a private balcony.

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Misha Nonoo

Fashion designer Misha Nonoo and Meghan Markle had their children around the same time. Photo: Getty Images/AFP
Markle’s fashion designer BFF Misha Nonoo has been there for her from the get-go, and it doesn’t seem like she is going anywhere.

Nonoo and Markle had both their children within months of each other, and Nonoo has spoken of how motherhood has brought them even closer together.

Misha Nonoo and Meghan Markle; Nonoo’s first husband Alexander Gilkes went to school with Prince Harry. Photo: Getty Images
Nonoo’s first husband Alexander Gilkes actually went to school with Prince William and Prince Harry, and it’s even been rumoured that it was her who introduced Harry and Meghan to one another.

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Adele

Adele lives very close to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Beverly Hills. Photo: @adele/Instagram
Adele lives just around the corner from Meghan and Harry, and even went so far as to recommend a nursery for Archie when the family first moved into the neighbourhood.
Last year, according to reports in the British tabloids, Adele had been going over to the Sussexes’ rented house to take private Pilates lessons with Markle.

Judging by her unexpected inclusion on Markle’s birthday list, we bet they’re spending time together outside of those workout sessions too. Iconic!

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Princess Eugenie

Britain’s Princess Eugenie has known Meghan Markle for longer than Prince Harry, and was one of the surprise inclusions on the Duchess’ list of 40 friends. Photo: Reuters
In the era of the biggest British royal family feud known to mankind, Princess Eugenie’s inclusion on Markle’s birthday list is bound to raise a few eyebrows.

The princess showed off just how close she is to her cousin Harry’s wife when she shared a special birthday message to “dear Meghan” on Instagram.

In fact, Eugenie and Markle go way back to when they met through mutual friends, even before the former actress met Harry.

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Edward Enninful

Vogue editor Edward Enninful worked with Meghan Markle on the magazine’s famous September 2019 issue, which she guest edited. Photo: Getty Images

Edward Enninful is editor-in-chief of British Vogue and got to know Markle when they worked closely on the famous September 2019 issue.

He describes Markle as a “friend” and calls her a “very brave woman” in interviews.

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Daniel Martin

Make-up artist Daniel Martin did Meghan Markle’s wedding make-up and remains a loyal friend. Photo: Handout

Make-up artist Martin has known Markle for over a decade, having met her while she worked on TV series Suits, and has remained in contact with her throughout her time as a royal.

He did her make-up on her wedding day and even attended her intimate baby shower in New York. It seems he’s clearly still on her “favourites” list.

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Noticeably absent were …

Jessica Mulroney

Meghan Markle was reportedly “mortified” about being dragged into stylist Jessica Mulroney’s online bullying scandal. Photo: WireImage
As a famous fashion stylist and TV regular, Jessica Mulroney could certainly have filled a gap on Markle’s list of 40, but after a nasty “white privilege” bullying scandal that involved lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter, things seem a bit frosty between Markle and Mulroney.

Not only was Mulroney not included on Markle’s birthday list, she also made no mention of Markle’s birthday on her social media channels either.

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Oprah Winfrey

Why wasn’t Oprah Winfrey on Meghan Markle’s birthday list? Photo: @oprah/Instagram
Oprah has been a supporter of Markle’s from the moment the pair met in London, and her bombshell interview with the couple this year changed royal history forever, so we were surprised to see she wasn’t included on Meg’s birthday list.
Oprah’s interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle generated plenty of negative press for the British royal family. Photo: CBS

The TV and media mogul did yoga with Markle’s mother and even attended the royal wedding, so we’re pretty sure she would have had 40 minutes to spare for Markle’s cause. We can only speculate as to why she was left off.

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  • 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?