Prince Archie’s ‘intimate’ star-studded fourth birthday party in …

Prince Archie is set for a star-studded fourth birthday bash with some surprise celebrity names rumoured to be flocking to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's California home to ring in the milestone.  His fourth birthday coincides with his grandfather's May 6 coronation in London, so the young royal will be staying at his Montecito home to celebrate with his mother and sister Lilibet, alongside a menagerie of celebrity guests.  While Archie's birthday has been floated as an "intimate" and "low-key" affair, several big names are expected to make the trip to the Sussexes' sprawling California estate for the celebration. 

A source told US Weekly that Meghan Markle is planning a small do for Archie, with "family and a few very close friends" coming together to celebrate.  The Duchess' mother, Doria Ragland, will be there to celebrate the special day, the source added.  Oprah Winfrey is all but certain to attend given the couple's close relationship with the broadcasting icon, despite Meghan and Harry not making the cut for her 69th birthday party in January. 

Prince Archie to miss out on special tribute from King Charles at coronation

She was at the couple's 2018 wedding in Windsor, and famously interviewed the pair for the bombshell 2021 tell-all where Meghan exposed allegations of racism within the royal family. 

Tennis legend Serena Williams is also expected to fly in from her Florida mansion with five-year-old daughter Olympia in tow.  Williams and Markle became fast friends following the 2010 Super Bowl, and the sporting star was one of the first guests on the Duchess' hit Spotify podcast Archetypes.  Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, who moved into a US£14.2 million estate in Montecito a few years ago, have also been floated as potential invitees to the fourth birthday party. 

Perry's showing at Archie's bash is tentative as she will be performing at the King's coronation concert on May 7, but husband Bloom could stay home with two-year-old daughter Daisy Dove Bloom for the party.  Bloom is said to have become close with Prince Harry, and has publicly called the 38-year-old royal "nice" with a "great sense of humour".  They might not be the only A-list neighbours at the four-year-old's party, however, with Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi, Gwyneth Paltrow and Natalie Portman all residing within walking distance of the Sussexes' multi-million dollar home.  

Prince Harry is expected to cut his UK sojourn short to fly home for the celebrations, and is rumoured to only be attending the Westminster Abbey ceremony as opposed to partaking in the three-day celebration for the King. 

There has been talk the party could be held on the Sunday to accommodate for Prince Harry's travel plans, news.com.au's Royal Reporter Bronte Coy told Sky News Australia, 

Despite being born in London, this will be Archie's fourth birthday celebrated in California, after the Sussexes made the move across the Atlantic when he was just six months old.