Meghan Markle on girls’ day out amid Netflix backlash

Meghan Markle has been spotted enjoying a day out with her besties as she and Prince Harry are slammed over their bold new Netflix plan.

Meghan Markle has been spotted enjoying a girls’ day out with friends in California as her 42nd birthday celebrations continue.

The Duchess of Sussex looked radiant as she posed for a happy snap with celebrity hairdresser Kadi Lee and author Cleo Wade in the leafy courtyard of a restaurant.

In an image posted on Ms Lee’s Instagram account, a casually dressed Meghan smiled while hugging her friends in a warm embrace.

Meghan Markle poses with her friends celebrity hairdresser Kadi Lee and author Cleo Wade. Picture: Instagram

Ms Lee referenced Meghan’s wedding hairdresser Serge Normant in her photo caption.

“Belated bday celebrations with these lovely muses,” she wrote. “Missing Serge Normant.”

It was the latest girls’ gathering for Meghan, who last week went to see the movie Barbie with celebrity pals including Aussie star Portia de Rossi, according to the New York Post.

The group then spent the evening at the exclusive San Ysidro ranch in the hills of Montecito.

Meghan’s happy snap came amid backlash against her plans to adapt a “feminist” prequel to Charles Dickens’ classic novel Great Expectations for Netflix.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been slammed over their planned Charles Dickens adaptation. Picture: Getty Images

The Duchess and Prince Harry have been slammed by a royal expert for taking on the project, which is almost identical to a BBC adaptation made a decade ago.

The politically correct Sussexes want to create a version focused on the life of the character Miss Havisham, a wealthy, vengeful woman who wears her wedding dress constantly from the moment she is jilted at the altar.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun: “It is one thing for Meghan to narrate Elephant for Disney, another to take on Dickens!”

KATE ‘CALLS’ CLAIM BLASTED

Meanwhile, reports that Princess Catherine is making late-night calls to her estranged brother-in-law Prince Harry in an attempt to mend his relationship with Prince William have been dismissed.

Prince Harry’s tell-all Spare memoir — in which he claimed Prince William physically attacked him during arguments, and that Catherine was not friendly towards Meghan — was the last straw for the royals, an expert said.

Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield blasted tabloid claims that Catherine had been making late-night calls to Prince Harry, telling him to “keep his chin up”, as completely untrue.

She told Fox News: “My contacts at Kensington Palace have told me that this story has no truth to it … The Princess of Wales is not making late-night calls to Prince Harry.

“A significant amount of William’s unhappiness toward Harry revolves around Harry and Meghan discussing Catherine so openly to Oprah and within Spare.

“Catherine is very respectful of Prince William’s feelings and wouldn’t go behind his back to execute anything.”

She added: “William and Catherine do not receive regular updates on Harry and Meghan, so Kate would not be aware of any difficulties Harry was having to advise him to keep his chin up.”

It was earlier reported that Catherine will “never forgive” Meghan Markle and Prince Harry despite signs of a reconciliation between Prince William and his younger brother.

The House of Wales has been divided over “moves” by Prince William to extend an olive branch to Prince Harry.

The Fab Four put on a united front in the dark days after the death of the Queen last September. Picture: Getty Images

“Kate has drawn a hard line in the sand — she’s not changing her mind about them,” an insider said.

The line was drawn and has remained unchanged since the infamous “ultimate betrayal” with Oprah Winfrey, when the royal family was accused of racism.

“They never apologised for their lies. But it’s harder for William because Harry is his brother,” the insider told OK! Magazine. “It’s a horrible situation all around.”

Catherine, Princess of Wales is unable to forgive Meghan Markle after the “ultimate betrayal”. Picture: Getty Images

“But Kate feels that Harry and especially Meghan have done enough damage to the royal family, and will do even more damage if they’re let back in,” the source added.

Prince Harry has been striking a lonely figure as a castaway, with royal body language expert Judi James saying he’s lost his royal status while being repeatedly “ignored” during his solo trip to Japan.

“Harry probably doesn’t have any body language for moments like this — when he is left alone, un-hosted and virtually ignored by the others at the event,” Ms James told The Express, saying he appeared “awkward” without the adoring gaze from his wife.

“As a royal, he would have been guaranteed to be the centre of attention in a group setting and used to getting admiring smiles of polite flattery when he was out at events, but that clearly isn’t a given now his royal status has gone,” he added.

Originally published as Meghan Markle on girls’ day out amid Netflix backlash