Meghan Markle has successfully infiltrated the Hollywood social scene since she and Prince Harry resigned from their royal duties in 2020 and planted their roots in Montecito, Calif.
The Duchess of Sussex — who now lives in a not-so-humble $14 million abode with Harry and their two kids Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2 — has continued to grow her inner circle of power player pals despite the couple’s continued estrangement from the royal family.
While Markle has long been a friend to megastars like Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney and Serena Williams, all of whom attended her 2018 nuptials to the Duke of Sussex, she has expanded beyond her original clique since beginning her Montecito reign.
Earlier this year, the “Suits” alum, 42, and her husband, 39, attended the emotional surprise vow renewal ceremony between Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi.
“They indeed attended and had a wonderful time celebrating Portia’s birthday and the couple’s vow renewal,” an insider told Page Six at the time, adding that they are all “close friends.”
Markle and de Rossi joined forces yet again while celebrating the former actress’ 42nd birthday in August. The pals went to see the “Barbie” movie at a Santa Barbara theater, sources confirmed at the time.
From there, the “Princess of Montecito” has made the rounds on the Los Angeles social circuit.
In September, Markle was spotted getting her groove on with Kerry Washington and Kelly Rowland in a VIP box at one of Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” world tour concerts at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Later that month, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex schmoozed with heavy hitters at Kevin Costner’s charity fundraiser held at the “Yellowstone” star’s luxurious Santa Barbara estate. Markle’s pal Winfrey was on hand and Maroon 5 performed for attendees.
Just this week, Page Six exclusively reported that the Sussexes linked up with Chris Evans and his wife Alba Baptista during their secret trip to Portugal after the 2023 Invictus Games in Germany.
A source told us that the couples, who did not previously know each other, had bumped into each other at a local establishment and that their run-in was coincidental.
Perez Hilton exclusively told Page Six that the duke and duchess are already tight with the A-list crowd.
“She’s hanging out regularly with Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, with Ellen DeGeneres, with Oprah [Winfrey]. It doesn’t get any more Hollywood than that,” the gossip blogger shared in May.
Even Markle’s mom, Doria Ragland, has wiggled her way into the world of the rich and famous and was spotted hanging out with Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner at a Los Angeles Gala in August with Markle nowhere in sight.
Markle’s rise in the industry comes as no surprise considering she signed with Hollywood agency WME in August after enduring a number of hits in the headlines.
Last May, she and Harry were accused of exaggerating a car chase with the New York City paparazzi to gain publicity, though a rep for the couple denied the claim.
“Respectfully, considering the duke’s family history, one would have to think nothing of the couple or anybody associated with them to believe this was any sort of PR stunt,” publicist Ashley Hansen told Page Six at the time, referencing Princess Diana’s fatal car crash with paparazzi in 1997.
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“Quite frankly, I think that’s abhorrent.”
A month later, Spotify cut ties with the Sussexes three years after they signed a $20 million deal. Markle’s “Archetypes” podcast was subsequently canceled by the streaming platform after just one season because she only produced a meager 12 episodes in two and a half years.
Amid all the drama, Harry has continued to be on the outs with his dad King Charles III and his brother Prince William after airing their family’s dirty laundry in his bombshell “Spare” memoir, which dropped in January.
Despite the Sussexes’ many setbacks, Markle is seemingly forming closer bonds with new celebrities as she angles for a comeback.
Markle’s rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
