While fans and observers awaited Meghan’s public celebration of her milestone birthday, the former Suits star surprised everyone with a video uploaded to Archewell starring her pal – and another owner of the initials MM – Melissa McCarthy.

Meghan couldn’t stop laughing in a video published on the Archewell website as the Bridesmaids actress, 50, assisted the duchess in launching her ’40×40′ campaign, which was endorsed by many other prominent LA-based pals.

“With this time, I hope they each help someone advance a professional life on her own terms, and, I hope that they inspire countless others to give 40 minutes of their time as well,” Markle said in a video statement.

Adele, poet Amanda Gorman, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and fashion designer Stella McCartney are among those who have pledged 40 minutes to help a woman in their community – all friends of the duke and duchess.

“This effort is being spurred in response to the tens of millions of women around the world who have left the workforce in the past two years (largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic), including two million women in the U.S,” a spokesman for the Duchess of Sussex stated in a news statement.

“As women continue to reenter the workforce, we believe that mentorship is one way to help women regain confidence and rebuild their economic strength,” the spokesman continued.

According to Meghan, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women’s work, notably in the United States. In February, New York Magazine dedicated its cover to this topic, reminding readers that women had lost 5.4 million jobs since the epidemic, with female employment at its lowest level since 1988. Meghan also encourages other women to become mentors through the Archewell website, pointing them to organizations and ways in which they may do so, as well as highlighting the advantages of mentorship.

While the video’s goal was instructional, it also provided an opportunity for the duchess and McCarthy to showcase their comic abilities.

When asked, ‘Are you finally going to have a Suits reunion?’, the Duchess chuckles and says, ‘Why would I do a Suits reunion for my birthday?’

Later in the day, Princess Eugenie vowed to take part in an Instagram post commemorating ‘dear Meghan’s 40th birthday.’

She wrote: ‘To celebrate dear Meghan’s 40th birthday I’m contributing 40 minutes of mentorship to support women reentering the workforce.’

Meghan is wearing a zodiac-themed necklace with the constellations linked to Taurus and Gemini – the star signs of her children, Archie (born May 6) and infant daughter Lili (who was born on June 4, 2021).

‘Because I’m turning 40, I’m asking 40 friends to donate 40 minutes of their time to help mentor a woman who’s mobilising back into the workforce,’ Meghan said at the outset of a Zoom-style chat in her pristine LA house.

‘Over two million women in the US alone and tens of millions around the world have lost their jobs due to Covid. And I think if we all do it and all commit 40 minutes to some sort of active service, we can create a ripple effect.’

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