'Girls Night!' Inside Meghan Markle's Friendship with Kerry Washington amid Birthday Celebration

Mar. 15, 2025

Meghan Markle; Kerry Washington.Photo:Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty; Sean Zanni/WireImage

Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty; Sean Zanni/WireImage

Meghan MarklehelpedKerry Washingtoncelebrate her birthday with a girls' night in, inspiring a look back at their years-long friendship.

Washington turned 48 on Jan. 31, and the Duchess of Sussex attended the spiritual-themed bash thatJessica Albaposted video of toTikTokon the same day. Meghan, 43, was spotted sitting next to theScandalalum at a long table as Alba walked in with plates of doughnuts lit up with candles, and she briefly appeared in other shots of the party, where guests participated in activities like meditation and journaling.

“Happy Born Day to my girl#KerryWashington,” The Honest Company founder wrote in part online with festive emojis. “There’s nothing like that fill-your-cup type of#girlsnight 💗”

Washington also shouted out a cause close to Meghan’s heart in herInstagrampost with photos from the celebration with friends, and she said that her “birthday wish” was for followers to consider donating to the Altadena Teen Girls' Fire Rescue.

Meghan and Washington — who follows the Duchess of Sussex Washington on hernew Instagram accountunveiled on Jan. 1 — have seemingly known each other for years.

Washington posted a throwback photo of them together to support Meghan’s40 x 40 initiativein 2021. The pitch invited people to donate 40 minutes of their time to women re-entering the workforce, timed to the Duchess' 40th birthday that year, and her pal posted a picture of them together.

The shot showed the friends at a New York City dinner in 2013 celebrating Washington’s cover that April of Elle magazine (an era overlapping with Meghan’s tenure starring onSuits!), and she wrote on social media then how she was supporting 40 x 40.

Meghan Markle and Kerry Washington at Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria in New York City on May 15, 2013.Anna Webber/Getty

Anna Webber/Getty

In August 2023, Meghan, Washington andKelly Rowlandattended one of Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour concerts at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. There, the trio posed for photos showing that they adhered toBeyoncé’s “birthday wish”that her fans all wear fabulous silver fashions to the shows 8.23 - 9.22" in honor of her 42nd birthday that Sept. 4.

Kerry Washington, Kelly Rowland and Meghan Markle at Beyonce’s Renaissance world Tour concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Sept. 4, 2023.Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The Duchess of Sussex and Washington were recently spotted spending time together at the2024 Paley Honors Fall Galain Beverly Hills on Dec. 4, celebrating their friend,Tyler Perry.

Meghan Markle and Tyler Perry at the 2024 Paley Honors Fall Gala celebrating Tyler Perry on Dec. 4, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty

ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty

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Perry, 55, is the godfather of Meghan and Prince Harry’s 3-year-old daughter,Princess Lilibet, and recently directed the new Netflix movieThe Six Triple Eightstarring Washington.

The film follows Washington as Lt. Col. Charity Adams, the commanding officer of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only unit made up of Black women in the Women’s Army Corps sent to Europe during World War II. The Six Triple Eight premiered on Netflix just a few days after the gala on Dec. 6.

source: people.com