Happy birthday, Meghan Markle! The Duchess of Sussex turned 38 on August 4th and reportedly chose to celebrate in a big way.
Even though reports initially stated that Markle planned to sit back and stay home for her big event, several outlets are reporting that Markle chose to do something that most of us would only dream of. She was said to have booked a private jet to Ibiza, alongside her husband Prince Harry and son Archie.
Now, you’ve probably heard a lot about Ibiza in recent years. Netflix even made a movie about it, starring Gillian Jacobs and Vanessa Bayer. It’s a location that is literally fit for a Duchess.
Ibiza is an island in Spain that’s known both for its serenity and active nightlife. It seems to be what you’d make of it — but regardless of what your goal is while planning a vacation out there, it’s bound to be a memorable time. And who knows? Maybe you’ll bump into Markle while you’re there.
This isn’t the first time that Markle has gone to Ibiza, and it’s likely not the last. According to a photo on a Meghan Markle-inspired Twitter account, she went there with friends a few years before her royal life began.
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Entertainment Tonight reports that the birthday trip was done secretly. The trip lasted six days.
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The family reportedly stayed in a private villa, meaning that they got to spend a lot of time together as a family. The good news about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is that they always seem to travel well — every vacation has been a rewarding experience.
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That said, they did get a bit of criticism online.
Since they seem to care a lot about the environment, their use of the jet lead to a lot of people saying they’ve lost respect for Prince Harry.
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They have yet to respond to the critique — or give any information about their trip.
Their next planned trip (that we know of, at least) will be to South Africa this fall. It’s for the Royal Tour of South Africa, which Markle has reportedly been planning.
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The tour was announced this past June. Archie is expected to join them, which makes it even more special.
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If the news is true, Harper’s Bazaar writes that Archie will be one of the youngest royal members ever to go on tour. He’ll beat out his cousin, Prince George, who traveled to New Zealand a few years ago when he was only nine months old.
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While the South Africa tour will focus on charities that mean a lot to the royal family, this trip to Ibiza was likely just for pleasure. Even members of the royal family deserve some time out of the spotlight.
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According to The Observer, they flew out on August 6th and went directly to Spain. So, it’s possible Markle spent part of her actual birthday back at home, packing for Ibiza.
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Travel and Leisure reports that Markle also celebrated her birthday with the Queen. On the day itself, there was a tea party.
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During this celebration, the Queen also reportedly gave Markle and Prince Harry brand new titles. You probably know them as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
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Now, they’ve also got Scottish titles. So, they’re also the Earl and Countess of Dumbarton when they travel to Scotland.
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So, it seems like Markle will always remember her 38th year. It’s nice that she got time to spend with multiple branches of the family this month.
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The real question is, how did they celebrate in Ibiza?
And, how did Archie enjoy his reportedly first-ever family holiday?
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Born on May 6th, Archie is only three months old.
And even royal babies sometimes act up during travel. (Kate Middleton has three kids, and probably a ton of parental horror stories to share.)
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It’s a skill he’ll want to learn, as the royal family is expected to travel quite often.
It’s part of the job description. As Markle got her start as an actress, she probably had no issue adapting to the royal travel demands.
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Next time Meghan Markle plans a trip to Ibiza to celebrate a big event, maybe she’ll offer us an invite.
After all, she is somewhat of a rebel — here’s every royal rule the Duchess has broken.