Meghan Markle's 'brutal' truth about previous birthdays as she celebrates turning 38

Meghan Markle is celebrating her 38th birthday yesterday.

This year she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, guest-edited British Vogue and worked behind the scenes with multiple charities and organisations.

But, like everyone, the Duchess of Sussex experiences highs and lows - and she says her 20s were particularly "brutal".

Writing on her now-defunct blog The Tig, Meghan once revealed that her younger years were "a constant battle".

She wrote: "My 20s were brutal - a constant battle with myself, judging my weight, my style, my desire to be as cool/as hip/as smart/as 'whatever' as everyone else.

"My teens were even worse - grappling with how to fit in, and what that even meant.

"My high school had cliques: the black girls and white girls, the Filipino and the Latina girls. Being biracial, I fell somewhere in between."

According to sources, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and baby Archie will be taking a trip to Scotland to celebrate Meghan's birthday, joining the Queen and Prince Philip on their annual summer break in Balmoral for the first time.

"The Queen and Prince Philip adore the couple and, of course, their new great-grandson Archie, and they have invited them to Balmoral for a few days," a source told The Sun.

However, this trip has not been confirmed by officials.

Other sources claim the family are celebrating quietly at home.

Meanwhile, a royal author has claimed the Queen has 'earmarked' Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, to be Meghan's royal mentor to help her fit in.

The pair were seen getting along well in the Royal Ascot last year.

Writing in Grazia, Katie Nicholl said: "The Queen has earmarked Sophie as a royal mentor for Meghan.

"The pair share similar backgrounds, as Sophie, like Meghan, gave up a successful career in PR to marry into the royal family, so is in a position to help Meghan."