Unfazed Meghan Markle is all smiles shopping despite King Charles’ birthday snub
It was a shopping spree fit for a duchess.
Meghan Markle and her pal Kelly McKee Zajfen were seen smiling and laughing Friday as they had lunch and went shopping mere days before her father-in-law’s 75th birthday.
Markle, 42, was spotted wearing a black top with the long sleeves casually rolled up to her elbow while also wearing belted grey pants and black flats.
The former duchess completed her look with black sunglasses, a ponytail and a poppy pin in honor of Remembrance Day in the UK and Veteran’s Day in the US.
Zajfen, 43, had a more casual look, opting for a yellow t-shirt and blue jeans while carrying her phone around her neck.
In photos obtained by The Post, Markle and Zajfen can be seen exiting Pane E Vino Trattoria, located in Santa Barbara, after grabbing lunch together before ducking into women’s clothing store Wendy Foster to make a few purchases.
Emerging from the high-end boutique, Markle and Zajfen parted ways. Later that day, the former royal returned home to the Montecito mansion she shares with Prince Harry and their two children Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2. The pair purchased the 18,000-square-foot nine-bedroom,16-bathroom modern house for $14.65 million this summer.
The photos of the Duchess of Sussex emerged nearly four days before her father-in-law King Charles celebrated his 75th birthday.
It was reported by the Sunday Times last week that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were allegedly not invited to His Majesty’s birthday bash as the cold war between father and son still rages on.
Reps for Prince Harry, 39, and Markle told The Post that the rumors perpetuated by the outlet were not true.
“In response to UK media headlines, there has been no contact regarding an invitation to his majesty’s upcoming birthday,” the rep told The Post. “It is disappointing the Sunday Times has misreported this story.”
King Charles — who is reportedly hosting several family and friends at Clarence House on his actual birth date — is allegedly relieved that his youngest son and Markle will not be in attendance.
“Let’s be very clear, most senior members of the British monarchy are more than relieved by the news that the two former royals known as Harry and Meghan are simply not going to be returning for the birthday celebrations of His Majesty, The King,” royal commentator Neal Sean said to Fox News.
“The simple fact is, this news was a problem, but more importantly, who needs victims at a family celebration,” Sean continued. “This is the dilemma that faces most of the senior members of the family… while His Majesty, the King, would very much like to reconcile with his son, this is a bigger issue.”
According to Sean, the absences of both Harry and Meghan were extremely noticeable.
“Five years ago, King Charles could never have anticipated exactly how this historic birthday would’ve panned out,” the royal expert said. “However, reaching such a birthday has made him realize, according to close sources, just how difficult life as a reigning monarch can be.”
According to Sean, the monarch had held out hope that the former prince might have relented and returned to the UK for “such a landmark birthday.”
However, it appears Charles’ hopes of a family reunification were dashed after another royal expert claimed that Harry simply did not care about being invited to his father’s party.
“I really don’t think Harry cares about not being invited to his father’s 75th. The rift runs deep,” Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Express.
“The Sussexes reportedly still want an apology from the royal family,” Fitzwilliams said, adding “What the future holds is uncertain. It is not a pleasant prospect for King Charles to deal with.”
