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Meghan plans birthday getaway as she's 'cooped up' in $18M mansion, guests to get 'fast-tracked Covid-19 test'

The Duchess of Sussex would 'like to celebrate by getting out of Los Angeles', heading to Montecito, outside of Santa Barbara, where incidentally her friend Oprah lives
UPDATED JUL 22, 2020
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Meghan Markle is allegedly planning to "get out of town" for her birthday and has told friends she and Prince Harry are seriously in need of a change of scenery, an insider has revealed.

The source told the Daily Mail that the Duchess of Sussex would "ideally like to celebrate by getting out of Los Angeles, heading to Montecito, outside of Santa Barbara, where incidentally her friend Oprah lives" to celebrate her 39th birthday on August 4.

Since moving to Los Angeles earlier this year, the Sussexes have been staying at Hollywood producer Tyler Perry's $18 million mansion in the coveted Beverly Ridge neighborhood.

But the couple and their one-year-old son Archie have only been spotted in Beverly Hills only a handful of times and the family is now starting to feel "cooped up," according to the friend. 

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation during their royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019, in Cape Town, South Africa. (Getty Images)

Meghan's guest list would only consist of her closest friends and would be "held outside," the source revealed, adding that she would require "anyone who attends her soiree to get a fast-tracked Covid-19 test."

"Whatever she ends up doing for her birthday, Meghan said it will be low-key. She said she doesn’t want to come across as being careless and irresponsible," the insider said.

Meghan celebrated her last birthday by having a "family day" at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, England. It was a low-key event that saw the Duchess relish a carrot cake from Stoke Newington-based Luminary Bakery.

It was recently revealed that Westminster Abbey would not ring its bells for Meghan's birthday. However, it would ring bells for Princess Anne's birthday 11 days later, per Daily Mail.

"The bells are usually rung to mark the birthdays of senior members of the Royal Family, and through the line of succession to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children," a spokesman for the Abbey said.

It also emerged that Meghan's mother Doria Ragland had moved in with the family to help take care of baby Archie.

"Doria Ragland continues to live with Meghan, Harry, and Archie," a source told Us Weekly. "This has been the most time she has spent with her grandson since he was born."

The 63-year-old is said to be enjoying grandma duty as she gets to spend quality time with the 14-month-old, "get[ing] up in the morning and read[ing] to him," as well as helping her daughter make his "all-organic" baby food.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend The Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House on March 05, 2020, in London, England. (Getty Images)

Last month, it was reported that Doria is acting as an "unofficial nanny" to her grandson and to Meghan and Harry settle down in L.A.

A friend of the family previously told Daily Mail that Meghan considers Doria "her rock" and "doesn't trust many people" outside of her immediate circle anymore.

The doting mother fully supported Meghan and Prince Harry in their decision to step down as senior royals in January.

It was reported how the royal family and its observers were caught off guard when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they were quitting The Firm and would divide their time between North America and the UK in a bid to become financially independent.

Nonetheless, Meghan's LA-based mother supported the couple as she was "really worried about Meghan... and is relieved that her daughter is putting her mental health and well being first."

"Doria is very much about being true to oneself and so, of course, she will continue to encourage Meghan to take the road less traveled," the insider added.

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