Who is Colin Cowie? Meghan Markle gets Oprah Winfrey’s party planner for 40th birthday bash
Meghan Markle has reportedly roped in pal Oprah Winfrey's party planner for her 40th birthday bash that is expected to host 65 people amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Colin Cowie, 59, a lifestyle advisor, author, interior designer, and party planner, has reportedly been tasked with planning the Duchess of Sussex's milestone birthday party at her and Prince Harry's $13 million mansion in Santa Barbara, California. Cowie, known for his extravagant lifestyle, has previously organized bashes for A-list celebrities like Tom Cruise, Kim Kardashian, and Jennifer Aniston.
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Cowie was once quoted saying that "the equation for the gold standard of service isn’t 1+1=2. It’s 1+1=3. What can you do to stay ahead of the curve?" According to the Daily Mirror, Harry has reportedly ordered a cake from local baker Posies & Sugar to mark the occasion. Guests at the party, which is supposedly going to be lowkey, will enjoy "grazing tables" with locally sourced foods and wines.
"Megan wants a small gathering," a source told the Daily Mail. "About 65 people are invited, including her closest friends and family. Colin was recommended to her by Oprah who always puts on fabulous parties." The birthday party on Wednesday will not break Covid-19 rules, considering California has relaxed many of its restrictions, according to the newspaper.
Harry and Meghan grabbed headlines in January last year when they stepped back from their royal duties and moved to California, saying they wanted to be "financially independent." The couple subsequently purchased a $13 million residence in March, where they live with their son Archie and newborn daughter Lilibet.
Paving the way for their new lives as celebrities in Los Angeles, the Sussexes also struck mega-deals with Netflix and Spotify to the tune of $155 million. They were reportedly in discussion with the streaming giants in 2018 itself, while still residing in Kensington Palace.
That said, they only announced in January 2020 that they had decided to leave the UK and start a new life in America, away from the restrictions of royal life. Royal courtiers are reportedly expecting a string of allegations against them in the Duke of Sussex's book, which is due to be published next year. In his upcoming book, Harry will recount his “experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons” as a royal. However, a small group of staffers is now reportedly concerned the book would paint them in a bad light and offer a false picture of the couple's life in the Palace.
“Harry and Meghan's former staff members are convinced that this book is being written to settle scores and will likely include a lot of detail about their time within the Royal Family," one royal insider said, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “Based on the Oprah Winfrey interview, some of these ex-workers simply do not trust that a full and accurate picture will be presented. Conversations have already started about what steps they might be able to take to protect their own reputation and that of the monarchy post-publication," they added.