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It’s been almost five years since she swapped Windsor for Montecito – but it now seems Meghan Markle is putting down roots in a new friendship group.
Last week, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, was one of a handful of close friends who attended Kerry Washington’s low-key birthday celebrations.
To mark her 48th, the Scandal star held an intimate dinner party for her nearest and dearest – including Meghan, actress Jessica Alba and businesswomen Kelly Sawyer (who is also married to a top movie producer) and Shahed Fakhari Larson.
Sharing snippets from the evening – which involved a spiritual new moon ceremony – with her 20.6million Instagram followers, Jessica gushed: ‘There’s nothing like that fill your cup type of girls night.’
In her post, the newly single actress shared a clip, which briefly showed the Duchess smiling and clapping as she joined in with her girlfriends to sing Happy Birthday to Kerry.
Meghan is thought to have befriended Kerry in 2013 – and even labelled the Django Unchained actress her ‘ultimate talent crush’ three years later.
So it’s perhaps unsurprising that the Duchess would fit seamlessly in among the actress’s close friends, which included high-flying businesswomen at the top of their game and fellow thespians.
Here FEMAIL delves into Meghan’s girl squad – and why they could prove very useful with American Riviera Orchard’s launch.
Pictured: Meghan Markle with Kerry Washington at a Elle magazine party in New York in May 2013
Pictured: Meghan Markle (circled) attended Kerry Washington’s low-key birthday party last week
Kerry Washington
In 2013, Meghan Markle was an up-and-coming actress best known for playing paralegal Rachel Zane in Suits, which had only been running for two years.
That May, Meghan attended a party in New York City to celebrate Kerry Washington’s Elle magazine cover.
At that time, Kerry starred as Olivia Pope in the ABC drama series Scandal – a performance that saw her nominated for a Golden Globe and two Emmys during its seven season run.
While Kerry’s performance won praise from the critics, it also struck a chord with Meghan, who praised the star in a 2016 interview.
During the chat, Meghan was asked to reveal her ‘ultimate talent crush’, to which the Suits actor responded: ‘Kerry Washington. She’s amazing.’
Responding to Meghan’s kind words two years later, during a 2018 interview ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry, Kerry said: ‘That’s amazing.
‘She’s so beautiful and so talented, and I’m so very happy for her. I’m thrilled for the opportunities that lay ahead for her…I’m so happy for her because marriage rocks, so welcome to the club, girl!’
Kerry Washington, Kelly Rowland and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend Beyonce’s RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR at SoFi Stadium in September 2023
A photo posted on Meghan’s now-defunct Instagram account and on her old lifestyle blog The Tig shows her posing with Kelly Rowland and journalist, stylist and producer Joe Zee at New York Fashion Week in 2014
Elsewhere in the interview, Kerry admitted that her mother had woken her up early as a small child to watch the royal wedding between the then-Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.
As such, she added so she ‘probably would tune in’ watch Harry and Meghan’s wedding at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in May 2018.
In 2014, Meghan also posted a photo with Kerry and stylist Joe Zee at New York Fashion Week on her old Instagram account for her lifestyle blog The Tig.
Although the two women haven’t spoken publicly of their friendship, Kerry participated in Meghan’s 40×40 scheme in 2021, which aimed to encourage women back into work.
For the scheme commemorating the Duchess’ 40th, Meghan asked 40 celebrities to participate in the initiative which aimed to encourage people around the world to commit to giving 40 minutes of their time to support women going back to work.
Kerry wrote at the time: ‘Happy Birthday to…beautiful…Meghan Markle. On her 40th birthday, I will be joining The Duchess of Sussex by donating 40 minutes of service to grassroots organizers and organizations on the ground fighting for change.
The Duchess of Sussex marked her 40th birthday by launching a global mentoring project for women returning to work
Kerry Washington participated in Meghan’s 40×40 scheme in 2021, which aimed to encourage women back into work
‘Fighting for our democracy. Fighting for our rights and our voices to be heard as we re-enter into the workforce and a new election season.
‘If you are able, please join us today and pledge 40 minutes to community service or mentorship. Together, we can contribute to a global wave of compassion and positive change.’
Two years later, Kerry and Meghan happily posed for photos at Beyonce’s Renaissance World Tour in California along with Kelly Rowland.
The two women dressed in co-ordinating silver ensembles as they danced in a VIP box at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba pictured with Jill Wintersteen, who is the founder of Spirit Daughter and led a New Moon ceremony at the birthday party
Kerry Washington may be the link between them – but Meghan Markle and Jessica Alba definitely seem to have a lot in common.
The actresses – who are both 43 – got their start in Hollywood in the early 1990s, with Jessica appearing in Camp Nowhere in 1994 while Meghan was an actress in Married… with Children the following year.
Although she moved around due to her father’s job in the Air Force, Jessica spent a lot of time in California as a child – just like Meghan, whose dad was a lighting director.
What’s more, the two women could have also bonded over their spiritualities at Kerry’s birthday party.
In August 2022, Meghan said in her Archetypes podcast that her ‘faith’ helped her get through the challenging times.
In conversation with Mariah Carey, Meghan explained: ‘I’ve said often through, especially the last few years of my life, my faith is greater than my fear, whether that’s faith in yourself or faith in God or faith in something bigger, whatever it is. It has to be bigger than your fear.’
Jill Wintersteen, Jessica Alba, Jerry Washington and Kelly Sawyer Patricof at the Scandal star’s birthday
On Jill’s Instagram, Meghan (wearing a white shirt and jeans) and Jessica were pictured sitting side-by-side during the ceremony
Following Kerry’s birthday, Jill Wintersteen, from Venice Beach, California, credited Jessica Alba for inviting her to hold a spiritual New Moon ceremony during the celebrations.
She gushed: ‘Magic happens when women gather in circles. I’m honored to have spent the first new moon of 2025 in a room full of powerful women who are all leaders within their communities.
‘I’m beyond grateful to Jessica Alba for holding sacred space and being the light that brought us all together. Thank you to everyone who showed up with an open heart.
‘This is how the world heals and transforms- through circles like this and the people who show up in them. To more nights like these.’
In photos shared on Jill’s Instagram, Meghan and Jessica were pictured sitting side-by-side during the ceremony, suggesting the Duchess has been welcomed into the friendship group with open arms.
Kelly Sawyer Patricof
Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Jessica Alba attend the Trigger Warning afterparty in California in June 2024
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex volunteering for Kelly Sawyer Patricof’s charity Baby2Baby in 2020
But Kerry and Jessica aren’t the only high-flyers in Meghan’s new circle – and the Duchess has no doubt found common ground with Kelly Sawyer Patricof.
The businesswoman-turned-philanthropist – who is a fellow dog-lover – set up the charity Baby2Bbay in 2011, which has provided over 200m diapers to families in need across 50 states in the US.
The charity works with domestic violence and homeless shelters, underfunded schools and foster care programmes.
Every year, Kelly and her co-CEO Norah Weinstein hosts a glittering gala, which have been attended by A-Listers such as Heidi Klum, Mindy Kaling (who appears in Meghan’s upcoming Netflix series) and the Duchess’ neighbour Katy Perry.
In 2020, Meghan and Harry volunteered at a back-to-school event for Baby2Baby, which involved distributing supplies, clothes and nappies at a drive-through.
Baby2Baby charity founder Kelly Sawyer Patricof and her movie producer husband Jamie Patricof attending the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in March 2024
Mindy Kaling and Katy Perry – who both have connections to Meghan Markle – attend the Baby2Baby gala in California in November 2024
What’s more, the charity has also worked closely with The Ellen DeGeneres show in the past – before Meghan famously appeared on it in 2021.
The charity also has an all-female board, consisting of over 70 celebrities the co-CEOs labelled their ‘Angels’ in an interview with The Particulars.
Giving a subtle nod to Meghan, they told the publication: ‘We are still surrounded by so many extraordinary women that have helped us grow Baby2Baby into what it is today.
‘And what’s incredible about these women is that they are not just names on a piece of paper.
‘They are extremely active CEOs, actresses, entrepreneurs and philanthropists and are here for Baby2Baby in so many capacities from showing up at our distributions in the height of COVID and volunteering with their own children to flying on planes with us to advocate to remove sales tax from diapers to donating millions of items from their own companies to Baby2Baby.’
Meanwhile, Kelly’s husband is movie producer Jamie Patricof – who worked on the award-winning films Blue Valentine, Captain Fantastic and The Accountant.
In 2023, Jamie worked with Netflix on a docu-series about the US Women’s World Cup team called Under Pressure.
Since stepping down from the Royal Family in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have worked closely with the streaming platform on a series of documentaries – including Harry & Meghan, Live to Lead and Polo.
Shahed Fakhari Larson
Jennifer Shaffer, Camille Goldstein, Jessica Alba, and Shahed Fakhari Larson (right) attend the Trigger Warning after party in June 2024
Shahed Fakhari Larson is another member of Meghan’s new friendship who could certainly prove useful in her upcoming business ventures.
The 42-year-old was a partner at the advisory firm Brunswick Group, which reportedly ‘specialises in business critical issues’.
According to her profile on the Iranian American Women Foundation’s website, Shahed has worked with brands such as Etsy, DoorDash and LuluLemon, which is one of the Duchess’ favourite sportswear brands.
Like Meghan, Shahed spent her formative years in the golden state – and received her BA from the University of California.
Currently, Shahed is the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for Coatue – an investment platform that connects business founders.
Ever the supportive friend, Shahed attended the Netflix party for Jessica’s 2024 film Trigger Warning – along with Kelly Sawyer Patricof.
Jennifer Kroog Rosenberg
Marketing heavyweight Jennifer Kroog Rosenberg (pictured) was another friend who attended Kerry Washington’s birthday
The Honest Company’s Jenny Berkley, Jessica Alba and Jennifer Kroog Rosenberg attend Variety’s fifth Annual Power of Women event in 2013
But Shahed isn’t the only one of Kerry and Jessica’s friends who might be able to support the Duchess with her forthcoming lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard, which will reportedly launch alongside her Netflix series With Love, Meghan.
Marketing heavyweight Jennifer Kroog Rosenberg was another friend who attended Kerry Washington’s birthday and is close friends with Jessica Alba.
Jennifer is the Vice President of Marketing Communications at The Honest Company, which sells eco-friendly baby products and makeup.
Before this, Jennifer worked in marketing for Juicy Couture and Kooba Handbags.
Like Meghan, Jennifer is a champion of women’s rights – and is a founding member of Chief, which is a private network for female leaders.
Over the years, Meghan has used her platform to advocate for women’s rights – from her Archetypes podcast exploring gender stereotypes to penning letters to world leaders about gender equality.
Meghan’s appearance at Kerry’s birthday party comes after Vanity Fair’s damning expose on the Duke and Duchess.
The damning profile in Vanity Fair stated that the Duchess of Sussex would reportedly be ‘warm and effusive’ towards employees at the start before turning ‘cold and withholding toward the person she perceived to be responsible’ when something ‘went poorly’
Meghan, 43, grew up in Los Angeles, and now resides in Montecito with her husband, Prince Harry, and their two kids, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three
According to the magazine, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex ran into several snags that saw their lucrative deal with the streaming service, reportedly worth £18million, collapse in just three years.
The couple reportedly failed to yield consistent, successful content for the platform, with one former employee, claiming they were unlike other celebrity podcasters, who will ‘turn on the mic and talk’.
Instead, the source said, the couple ‘wanted a big theme that would explain the world, but they had no ideas’.
Some of Harry’s bizarre concepts ranged from reviewing hot chocolate every week to interviewing the likes of Putin and Donald Trump about being ‘sociopaths’.
Meanwhile, Meghan found it hard to commit to ideas before ‘backtracking’ and ‘watering them down’, meaning each episode had to be ‘completely reimagined late in production’, the article states.
The long-awaited series titled ‘With Love, Meghan’ was first teased when the Duchess of Sussex unveiled her luxury brand American Riviera Orchard last March
Meghan soft-launched her luxury lifestyle brand by sending 50 jars of jam to her famous friends
Even when Meghan finally premiered her podcast Archetypes – aimed at empowering women by breaking down gender stereotypes – it failed to take off amid rumours that Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion all declined to appear on it.
The damning profile in the magazine – headlined ‘American Hustle’ – also stated that the Duchess of Sussex could be ‘really, really awful’ when things did not go her way.
Elsewhere, the profile detailed allegations from former employees of Meghan who reportedly felt mistreated during their time working with her.
Sources with knowledge of Meghan’s ‘mutually beneficial partnership’ with Netflix have reportedly told PageSix that the streamer will help distribute American Riviera Orchard products that tie-in with the eight-part series.
‘The more that Netflix is getting into live events, the more this kind of thing makes sense for their future,’ one Hollywood source told the news outlet.
Meghan is said to hope that American Riviera Orchard, which will focus on home, garden, food and lifestyle wares, will be highly lucrative.
Her lawyer has applied to trademark the brand in the U.S. for various goods, including cutlery, recipe books, tablecloths, napkins, jams, edible oils, vegetable and dairy-based spreads. The trademark application also appears to extend to a physical shop where items could be sold.
The Duchess, 43, unveiled the venture last year by posting a glitzy video on Instagram in which she could be seen busying herself in a rustic-looking kitchen, arranging white and pink flowers and whisking something in a bowl.
Since then, Meghan has sent samples of her homemade jam to 50 of celebrity pals – including Kelly McKee Zajfen, Tracy Robbins and Delfina Blaqiuer.
