In a week filled with joy for one of Meghan Markle’s closest confidantes, the Duchess of Sussex’s conspicuous silence is raising eyebrows across Hollywood and royal circles alike. Kelly McKee Zajfen, the philanthropist, model, and longtime “forever friend” of the former actress, safely welcomed a beautiful baby boy named Jack Oliver Zajfen on March 26, 2026 – just one day after celebrating her own 44th birthday on March 25. The arrival has been hailed as a miracle gift following the tragic loss of her nine-year-old son George in 2022.
Yet while the world sends congratulations flooding in, one very public figure who was all over Kelly’s pregnant belly mere days ago has gone radio silent: Meghan Markle.
Sources close to the Sussex orbit tell Royal Family Insider the lack of any birthday wishes, baby announcement shout-out, or even a simple “congratulations” on social media or via private channels is being viewed as a stunning and telling omission. Especially given the very public display of affection – some are calling it over-the-top “manhandling” – Meghan showed toward Kelly’s bump at the Alliance for Children’s Rights Champions for Children gala in Beverly Hills on March 19-20, 2026.
Photos and videos from that star-studded evening captured Meghan repeatedly cradling, rubbing, and holding onto Kelly’s heavily pregnant belly in full view of cameras. The Duchess appeared to make the moment all about the impending arrival, drawing attention to her friend’s bump while Kelly was being honored for her tireless work with the Alliance of Moms. Body language experts and online commentators alike noted how Meghan seemed to “steal the spotlight” once again, with some critics using stronger terms like “molesting the bump” to describe the constant physical contact that left many viewers uncomfortable.
One viral clip showed Meghan leaning in close, hands firmly on Kelly’s stomach, smiling broadly for the lenses as if the pregnancy was her own personal project. Kelly, ever the gracious friend, has long praised Meghan as an “incredible role model” and “one of my best friends,” even appearing on Meghan’s Netflix series *With Love, Meghan*. Their bond spans nearly two decades, with Kelly standing by Meghan through royal life, Megxit, and motherhood.
But now, in Kelly’s moment of pure happiness – a rainbow baby boy named Jack (in honor of her grandfather) and Oliver (sharing a middle name with her late son George) – Meghan is nowhere to be seen in the congratulations.
Kelly announced the joyful news herself on Instagram on March 26, posting tender hospital photos and writing: “The best birthday gift ever. 🎉 Happiest birthday to you sweet Jack Oliver Zajfen.” The post quickly filled with well-wishes from friends, family, and fans moved by the family’s journey after their heartbreaking loss of George to COVID-19 complications and viral meningitis four years earlier.
Meghan, who maintains active (if carefully curated) social media presence through the couple’s Archewell channels and has never shied away from public gestures toward friends in the past, has posted nothing. No story, no comment, no repost. Insiders say there has been no private message leaked or confirmed either – a departure from the effusive support Meghan usually showers on her inner circle when it suits her narrative.
“This is classic Meghan,” said one Hollywood source who has observed the friendship over the years. “She was all hands-on with the bump when the cameras were rolling and it could generate positive PR for her ‘supportive friend’ image. But when it’s time to genuinely celebrate Kelly without the spotlight being on her own brand, she ghosts. Kelly just gave birth after an incredibly difficult few years, and Meghan can’t even manage a simple ‘congrats’? It speaks volumes.”
The snub feels particularly pointed because Kelly has been one of Meghan’s most loyal defenders. She has spoken glowingly about watching Meghan mother Archie and Lilibet, called her a quiet philanthropist, and stood shoulder-to-shoulder at events. Just days before the birth, Meghan made a rare red-carpet appearance specifically to support Kelly at the children’s rights gala. Now, with Kelly safely through delivery and beaming over her newborn son, the silence from Montecito is deafening.
Royal watchers and Sussex skeptics have wasted no time pointing out the hypocrisy. For years, Meghan has positioned herself as the ultimate girl’s girl, the empathetic friend who “shows up” for other women – especially mothers. Her Netflix projects, podcasts, and interviews are filled with talk of sisterhood, vulnerability, and community. Yet here, with one of her dearest friends experiencing what should be one of life’s happiest milestones, that support appears to have evaporated overnight.
Some speculate the timing is no coincidence. Meghan and Harry have been locked in their own brand-rebuilding efforts, with rumors of new projects, financial strains, and ongoing family tensions. Others suggest the “manhandling” moment itself may have been performative, and once the photo op ended, so did the feigned closeness.
Kelly, for her part, has not publicly addressed any lack of contact. She remains focused on her growing family, including her husband Julian Zajfen and their 13-year-old daughter Lily, who was photographed cradling baby Jack in the announcement post. The Zajfen family has endured unimaginable grief, and this new little boy represents hope and healing.
Friends of Kelly tell us she deserves every ounce of celebration without any drama. But the glaring absence of Meghan – the same woman who couldn’t keep her hands off the bump when it benefited her image – has left many questioning the depth of these so-called “forever friendships” in the Sussex world.
As one commentator put it bluntly online: “Guess who didn’t congratulate Kelly or send her birthday wishes despite manhandling & molesting her bump a few days earlier? The self-proclaimed queen of empathy.”
Meghan Markle has built an empire on curated kindness and selective storytelling. This week, her silence toward a friend in genuine need of support may be the most revealing chapter yet. While the rest of the world cheers for little Jack Oliver Zajfen and his resilient mother, the Duchess’s inaction has once again exposed the gap between the image she sells and the reality she delivers.
Royal Family Insider reached out to Archewell and representatives for Meghan Markle for comment on the lack of public or private congratulations. No response had been received at the time of publication.
In the meantime, congratulations to Kelly McKee Zajfen on the safe arrival of her precious baby boy. May this new chapter bring the family endless joy – with or without the fanfare from Montecito. The contrast couldn’t be clearer.
