‘Cooped up’ Meghan is toying with idea of celebrating her birthday outside of LA

Meghan Markle has been toying with the idea of getting out of town for her birthday, telling friends she and Prince Harry are feeling ‘cooped up’ and are in need of a change of scenery, an insider exclusively told DailyMail.com.

The 38-year-old’s birthday is around the corner on August 4, and she’d ideally like to celebrate by getting out of Los Angeles, heading to Montecito, outside of Santa Barbara, where incidentally her friend Oprah lives, the friend said. 

Meghan, Harry and their one-year-old son Archie have been staying at Hollywood producer Tyler Perry’s $18 million mega-mansion in the exclusive neighborhood of  Beverly Ridge since moving to LA in March. 

They’ve only been spotted out a handful of times, most recently leaving an appointment in Beverly Hills, as the friend explained the couple is starting to feel ‘cooped up’, leaving Meghan ready to get out of town for her birthday.

Meghan would require anyone who attends her soiree to get a fast-tracked Covid-19 test, but stressed the guest list would only be a handful of her closest friends and held outside.   

The friend added: ‘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.’

Meghan and Harry have only been spotted out a handful of times since their move to LA in March, most recently leaving an appointment in Beverly Hills, as the friend explained the couple is starting to feel ‘cooped up’, leaving Meghan ready to get out of town for her birthday

Meghan, Harry and their one-year-old son Archie have been staying at Hollywood producer Tyler Perry’s $18 million mega-mansion in the exclusive neighborhood of Beverly Ridge

Last year, Meghan rang in her 38th birthday by having a ‘family day’ at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor in England.

The occasion was low-key and she enjoyed a carrot cake from Stoke Newington-based Luminary Bakery.

Recently, it was revealed Westminster Abbey would not ring its bells for Meghan’s birthday, although it would ring the bells for Princess Anne’s birthday 11 days later. 

A spokesman for the Abbey said: ‘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.’ 

It was also revealed that Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland had moved into Tyler Perry’s mega-mansion to help take care of Archie.  

‘Doria Ragland continues to live with Meghan, Harry and Archie,’ a source claimed, speaking to Us Weekly. 

‘This has been the most time she has spent with her grandson since he was born.

Doria, 63, is reportedly enjoying being on grandma duty, spending quality time with the 14-month-old, ‘get[ing] up in the morning and read[ing] to him,’ and helping Markle make his ‘all-organic’ baby food.

It was also revealed that Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland had moved into Tyler Perry’s mega-mansion to help take care of Archie

Last year, Meghan rang in her 38th birthday by having a ‘family day’ at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor in England. The occasion was low key and she enjoyed a carrot cake from Stoke Newington-based Luminary Bakery

It comes after reports last month that Doria, a former social worker, is acting as an ‘unofficial nanny’ to Archie and to help the couple out as they find their feet in LA.  

A friend previously told DailyMail.com that Meghan wants to keep her mother close because she is ‘her rock’ and now ‘doesn’t trust many people’ outside of an immediate circle of family and friends. 

Meghan had the full support of her mother when she and Prince Harry quit as senior royals back in January.

When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex dropped the bombshell news that they were quitting, dividing their time between North America and the UK and would work to become financially independent, the royal family and the rest of the world were caught off guard.

However, Meghan reportedly had the backing of her Los Angeles-based mother, who ‘was really worried about Meghan… and is relieved that her daughter is putting her mental health and well being first,’ the insider said.

The friend added: ‘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.’