Meghan Markle hangs out with newly single Jessica Alba at Hollywood star’s party

Meghan Markle was a surprise guest at Hollywood A-lister Kerry Washington’s birthday party this week, which was also attended by newly single star, Jessica Alba

Meghan Markle looked like she’d put the stress of the last few weeks behind her when she was seen with her showbiz pals this week.

The former Suits star, 43, has had a tough time after being branded a “disaster tourist” when she was papped at an evacuation centre in Los Angeles, hugging those who had lost their homes in the devastating wildfires. Her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, was also postponed after the tragedy.

Then came a scathing 8,000-word article about Meghan and Prince Harry. The cover piece, titled American Hustle, set out what life was like ­’Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Big Business Ambitions, 5 Years After Their Royal Exit’.

Despite the drama, the former royal looked in good spirits on Thursday when she made a surprise appearance at Hollywood A-lister Kerry Washington’s birthday, which was also attended by newly single star, Jessica Alba, who recently split from her husband of 16 years, Cash Warren.

In snaps taken from the swanky bash, Meghan, dressed in a chic cream blouse, was filmed smiling and clapping as the friends sang Happy Birthday to Emmy Award-winning actress at the intimate dinner party. Both Kerry and Jessica – who presented the birthday girl with doughnuts covered in candles, sporting an oversized t.shirt and jeans – shared snaps from the party on their Instagram page, however, Meghan can’t be seen in any of them. But the Duchess is briefly visible in a film taken from the soiree in which she joins in with the birthday celebrations.

It comes after a challenging time for the mum-of-two in the wake of the “disaster tourist” slur made against her when she and Prince Harry appeared at a food bank in Los Angeles, comforting those who had lost their homes in the devastating wildfires. When the couple were papped hugging the beleaguered residents, actress Justine Bateman claimed the couple were only there for a “photo opportunity”, in a damning claim about the pair.

Meghan was said to be “insulted” by the claims, with a source saying she did everything she could to help those affected by the fires, including opening the doors of her Montecito mansion.

Following the fires, Meghan’s Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, has been postponed. Then, the duchess had to contend with a scathing article in Vanity Fair, which contained troubling claims about what it’s allegedly like to work for the Sussexes, complaints from their neighbours in Montecito, and the bombshell allegation that a member of Meghan’s team had reached out to a publishing house to “gauge interest” in a post-divorce book.

To date, Harry and Meghan have not publicly responded to the article – and that’s all for the best, according to one expert. Royal PR expert and former communications secretary to the late Queen, Ailsa Anderson, claimed that the pair’s decision to not respond is likely down to the fact that they would “start adding fuel to the fire” if they were to do so.

She told a recent episode of Hello!’s A Right Royal Podcast: “If you start adding fuel to the fire, then you’re just elongating a story. So, I think there are times to stand up and be counted, and there are times to say nothing.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs onTikTok,Snapchat,Instagram,Twitter,Facebook,YouTubeandThreads.