Meghan Markle turned 45 on Tuesday and celebrated the way she has made her own ever since stepping back from royal duties: on her own terms, on her own Instagram, and with Prince Harry behind the camera.

In videos shared to her personal Instagram Stories, the Duchess of Sussex twirled around the kitchen of her Montecito, California home as breakfast was being prepared, wearing a white T-shirt reading "It's giving Mrs" and a tiara. Harry, 41, filmed the clips and could be heard laughing in the background, at one point joking "Oh dear" as Meghan danced Hello!.

The family's dogs got in on the act too. Beagle Mia and black labrador Pula wore party hats for the occasion, though Harry's "oh dear" was prompted by their refusal to sit still for the camera. The hats came off shortly after Hello!.

Meghan also shared two black-and-white photographs of herself jumping into a swimming pool, arms raised and clutching birthday balloons. She captioned them: "Thank you for the birthday love!" Hello!. A rare photo of her private birthday dinner followed, which she described as one of "the top five meals" she had ever enjoyed The Times and Sunday Times.

She spent the day with Harry and their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, at the family's California home Hello!.

Her lifestyle brand, As Ever, paid tribute to its founder with a carousel of photographs including a childhood throwback. The post read: "Happy birthday to our founder, @meghan" and "Lighting No. 084 to celebrate!" Hello!.

The birthday caps a busy stretch of public appearances. The previous week, Meghan attended a screening of Cookie Queens, a documentary about the Girl Scouts for which she serves as executive producer. The event marked her first public solo appearance since she travelled to Geneva in May Hello!.

She also recently appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia, where a FaceTime call from Harry interrupted filming mid-judgement. Meghan answered with a warm "Hi, my love!" Hello!.

Last month, Meghan travelled to the UK with Harry and reunited with King Charles, though she was not publicly photographed during the visit Hello!.

For followers of the Duchess, the birthday posts offered the sort of unguarded glimpse that has become a hallmark of her California years: the tiara worn without ceremony, the dogs unbothered by theirs, and Harry's laughter carrying through the phone.