The Queen was a “notable absence” from Meghan Markle’s birthday wishes on Thursday as the Duchess of Sussex turned 41.
Meghan met Prince Harry in 2016 before the pair married at St George’s Church in Windsor two years later.
But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior royals in 2020, before moving to the US to live.
On Thursday, as Meghan celebrated her 41st birthday, Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge were among those within the Royal family to send their public well wishes.
Meghan Markle and the Queen
PA
Meghan celebrated her 41st birthday on Thursday
PA
They were joined by Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in extending an olive branch to Meghan.
But the Queen did not issue a public statement to wish the Duchess a happy birthday.
The Royal Family twitter account released one post on Thursday - about Princess Anne and the upcoming Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
The tweet said: "One day to go! The Princess Royal was in Edinburgh this morning where she enjoyed a sneak peek of the @edinburghtattoo rehearsals ahead of their opening night tomorrow."
But Her Majesty’s public silence on Meghan’s birthday was partly because she is thought to have privately spoken to the Duke of Sussex, according to reports.
Explaining the situation, royal correspondent Richard Palmer said: "It is thought the Queen congratulated Meghan privately yesterday.
“But her official website neglected to mention her birthday after deciding it will only mark the birthdays of non-working members of the family when they end in a zero,” he said on the Daily Express.
Accompanied by a photograph of the former Suits actor sporting a beaming smile, Kate and William's tweet to Meghan on Thursday read: "Wishing a happy birthday to The Duchess of Sussex!"
Clarence House shared the same sentiment with a picture of Meghan taken during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.