EVERYONE from Adele to Oprah was involved in marking Meghan Markle’s recent 40th birthday celebrations.
But there was one notable absence who failed to comment on the occasion – Jessica Mulroney, the woman once considered her best friend.
The move has reignited rumours about a rift between the two women, especially given Jessica, 41, regularly updates her 416,000 Instagram followers on everything from her daily workouts to what her kids are eating for dinner.
A source close to Jessica told the Mail on Sunday: “Jess would post about the opening of an envelope, so the fact she’s the only one of Meghan’s close friends not to wish her a public happy birthday is definitely strange.
“It is something which has certainly raised eyebrows. Yes, Jessica was always protective of her friendship with Meghan. But it was always something that was there, front and centre. You could tell how important it was to Jessica.”
To add further fuel to the fire, Jessica posted a cryptic Instagram caption just days before Meghan’s birthday on August 4, then swiftly deleted it.
“I’ve spoken about mental illness for years,” she wrote. “It can be lonely having the world, friends distance from you and not even ask how you are. But thankfully, you find the things that truly matter.”
Commenting on the post, a source said: “Those final words about not even asking how you are is like a reference to that interview Meghan gave to ITV anchor Tom Bradby, when she complained that no one in the Royal Family had asked how she was or ‘if I’m OK’.”
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Back in June, Jessica wrote a similar post about “lost friends”.
It read: “Life changes. You lose love. You lose friends. You lose pieces of yourself that you never imagined would be gone. And then, without even realizing it, these pieces come back. New love enters. Better friends come along.”
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Meghan and Jessica were inseparable for a decade, ever since Prince Harry’s now-wife moved to Canada to film Suits.
Jessica, who’s married to the son of a former Canadian Prime Minister, is thought to have helped Meghan expand her contacts book.
The stylist also influenced Meghan’s fashion, was the unofficial Maid of Honour at her wedding, and sources have previously revealed: “Jessica was more influential on Megxit than anyone really realised.”
But with the likes of singer Adele, TV host Oprah, fashion designer Stella McCartney, and actresses Kerry Washington and Melissa McCarthy backing the 40×40 initiative – where Meghan asked her friends to mentor women returning to the workplace – Jessica was a notable absence.
Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie and Priyanka Chopra, another of Meghan’s friends from her pre-Royal days, were named among the stars taking part.
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Meghan is thought to have first distanced herself from Jessica last year, after lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter accused the Canadian of “white privilege”.
While Mulroney has denied being a racist, Meghan stayed silent as single mum Sasha said messages from Mulroney left her “paralysed with fear”.
Meghan was reported to have “cut ties” with Jessica over the spat, although this has never been confirmed.
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The Mail’s source added: “It’s quite sad. When Jessica stood on the steps of St George’s Chapel on Meghan’s wedding day in front of millions of TV viewers, she really looked like she was on top of the world.
“Who would have thought she would find herself in the position she’s in now?
“Of course, all friendships change over time, but it does seem telling that the only one of Meghan’s close friends not to wish her a public happy birthday online was Jess.
“You have to wonder what is really going on behind closed doors?”
Last night, we revealed how the Queen has order senior Palace aides to plan legal fightback after Harry and Meghan’s hurtful attacks.