It's been almost five years since she swapped Windsor for Montecito - but it now seems Meghan Markle is putting down roots in a new friendship group. Last week, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, was one of a handful of close friends who attended Kerry Washington's low-key birthday celebrations. To mark her 48th, the Scandal star held an intimate dinner party for her nearest and dearest - including Meghan, actress Jessica Alba and businesswomen Kelly Sawyer (who is also married to a top movie producer) and Shahed Fakhari Larson.

Sharing snippets from the evening - which involved a spiritual New Moon ceremony - with her 20.6m Instagram followers, Jessica gushed: 'There's nothing like that fill your cup type of girls night.'. In her post, the newly-single actress shared a clip, which briefly showed the Duchess smiling and clapping as she joined in with her girlfriends to sing Happy Birthday to Kerry. Meghan is thought to have befriended Kerry in 2013 - and even labelled the Django Unchained actress her 'ultimate talent crush' three years later.

So it's perhaps unsurprising that the Duchess would fit seamlessly in among the actress' close friends, which included high-flying businesswomen at the top of their game and fellow thespians. Here FEMAIL delves into Meghan's girl squad - and why they could prove very useful with American Riviera Orchard's launch. Pictured: Meghan Markle with Kerry Washington at a Elle magazine party in New York in May 2013.

Pictured: Meghan Markle (circled) attended Kerry Washington's low-key birthday party last week. In 2013, Meghan Markle was an up-and-coming actress best known for playing paralegal Rachel Zane in Suits, which had only been running for two years. That May, Meghan attended a party in New York City to celebrate Kerry Washington's Elle magazine cover. At that time, Kerry starred as Olivia Pope in the ABC drama series Scandal - a performance that saw her nominated for a Golden Globe and two Emmys during its seven season run.

While Kerry's performance won praise from the critics, it also struck a chord with Meghan, who praised the star in a 2016 interview. During the chat, Meghan was asked to reveal her 'ultimate talent crush', to which the Suits actor responded: 'Kerry Washington. She's amazing.'. Responding to Meghan's kind words two years later, during a 2018 interview ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry, Kerry said: 'That’s amazing.

'She's so beautiful and so talented, and I’m so very happy for her. I’m thrilled for the opportunities that lay ahead for her...I’m so happy for her because marriage rocks, so welcome to the club, girl!'. Kerry Washington, Kelly Rowland and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend Beyonce's RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR at SoFi Stadium in September 2023. A photo posted on Meghan's now defunct Instagram account and on her old lifestyle blog The Tig shows her posing with Kelly Rowland and journalist, stylist and producer Joe Zee at New York Fashion Week in 2014.

Elsewhere in the interview, Kerry admitted that her mother had woken her up early as a small child to watch the royal wedding between the then-Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. As such, she added so she 'probably would tune in' watch Harry and Meghan's wedding at St George's Chapel in Windsor in May 2018. In 2014, Meghan also posted a photo with Kerry and stylist Joe Zee at New York Fashion Week on her old Instagram account for her lifestyle blog The Tig.

Although the two women haven't spoken publicly of their friendship, Kerry participated in Meghan's 40x40 scheme in 2021, which aimed to encourage women back into work. For the scheme commemorating the Duchess' 40th, Meghan asked 40 celebrities to participate in the initiative which aimed to encourage people around the world to commit to giving 40 minutes of their time to support women going back to work.

Kerry wrote at the time: 'Happy Birthday to...beautiful...Meghan Markle. On her 40th birthday, I will be joining The Duchess of Sussex by donating 40 minutes of service to grassroots organizers and organizations on the ground fighting for change. The Duchess of Sussex marked her 40th birthday by launching a new global mentoring project for women returning to work. Kerry Washington participated in Meghan's 40x40 scheme in 2021 , which aimed to encourage women back into work.

'Fighting for our democracy. Fighting for our rights and our voices to be heard as we re-enter into the workforce and a new election season. 'If you are able, please join us today and pledge 40 minutes to community service or mentorship. Together, we can contribute to a global wave of compassion and positive change.'. Two years later, Kerry and Meghan happily posed for photos at Beyonce's Renaissance World Tour in California along with Kelly Rowland.