Kate Middleton 'surprised' by present Meghan Markle sent her on 39th birthday

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle surprised their sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, with "thoughtful" presents on her 39th birthday, it has been claimed.

Kate celebrated the day with a tea party at the family's Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, with Prince William, George, Charlotte and Louis.

A source has said that she wasn't expecting to get a present from Harry and Meghan, who now live in the US.

It comes after reports that relations between the Cambridges and the Sussexes are improving, following months of upset and anger when Meghan and Harry quit their senior royal roles.

A source told US Weekly: “It was a nice surprise.

"Kate wasn't expecting anything from the couple."

The source also claimed that William treated Kate to a stunning pair of diamond and sapphire earrings, which went down very well.

Kensington Palace shared a photo of Kate to mark her 39th birthday over the weekend, showing her wearing a face mask during last month's Royal Train 'thank you' UK tour.

There was also a message for NHS workers which read: "Birthdays have been very different in recent months, and our thoughts continue to be with all those working on the front line at this hugely challenging time."

Last year, Kate's birthday was overshadowed as it came the day after Meghan and Harry announced their plans to quit the royal family.

Their bombshell statement resulted in a series of logistical phone calls and chats between the Queen, Charles and William as they tried to work out what to do next.

Last month Meghan and Harry also sent Christmas presents to George, Charlotte and Louis in the post, and the two families chatted on video call over the holidays.

Speaking on True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat before Christmas, royal expert Katie Nicholl said: "I think it's no secret that there were great tensions and great difficulties in the relationship.

"There was an unbreakable bond between them and they were so close.

"I don't think they will ever be close the way that they were, but there has been nine months now since Megxit. I think relations are better between them.

"I know they are in touch, they do talk. Harry has sent over a load of Christmas presents for the Cambridge children.

"They will Zoom, they will chat over the holidays.

"There is contact, there is friendly contact. But it's not what it was."

Katie claims that it was Prince Charles's Covid-19 diagnosis that brought them back together.

She explained: "Harry was obviously desperately worried about his father and feeling miles away in LA.

"He needed that connection back home. That was the ice breaker."