Meghan Markle and Kerry Washington’s close bond was recently highlighted during a birthday celebration for Washington. This sparked a look back at their long-standing friendship, spanning over a decade.
Washington celebrated her 48th birthday on January 31st with a spiritually themed gathering. Footage shared on TikTok by Jessica Alba, who also attended, showed Markle sitting beside Washington. The party included activities like meditation and journaling. Washington later shared photos on Instagram, using the opportunity to promote the Altadena Teen Girls’ Fire Rescue, a cause close to Markle’s heart. Markle had previously volunteered with the organization, which supports teens affected by the devastating Eaton Fire in Los Angeles. Prince Harry and Markle had also contributed to the charity through their Archewell Foundation, and Washington pledged to match her followers’ donations to the group.
The friendship between Markle and Washington, who follows the Duchess of Sussex on Instagram, dates back several years. In 2021, Washington shared a throwback photo of herself and Markle to support Markle’s 40×40 initiative, which encouraged people to donate 40 minutes of their time to help women re-entering the workforce. The photo captured the pair at a New York City dinner in 2013, celebrating Washington’s Elle magazine cover.
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Washington’s 2021 Instagram post for Markle’s birthday highlighted her commitment to the 40×40 initiative, emphasizing the importance of supporting women’s re-entry into the workforce and advocating for democratic rights.
In August 2023, Markle, Washington, and Kelly Rowland attended a Beyoncé Renaissance World Tour concert together at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The trio embraced Beyoncé’s request for fans to wear silver clothing to the shows in honor of her birthday.
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More recently, Markle and Washington were seen together at the 2024 Paley Honors Fall Gala in Beverly Hills, honoring their mutual friend, Tyler Perry. A video showed them enjoying the event’s live auction.
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Perry, godfather to Markle and Prince Harry’s daughter, Princess Lilibet, recently directed the Netflix film The Six Triple Eight, starring Washington. The movie tells the story of the only all-Black female battalion in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II. The film’s release on Netflix shortly after the gala further cemented the connection between these three prominent figures. The ongoing public appearances and shared support for charitable causes demonstrate the enduring strength of Markle and Washington’s friendship.
