Meghan Markle Gave Kate Middleton a Birthday Gift the First Time They Met

If you’re struggling to think of gift ideas for a friend or family member’s upcoming birthday, we highly recommend taking inspiration from Meghan Markle, who gifted her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, a resourceful present when she first joined the royal family.

In the new tell-all biography, Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family, authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand share details about Markle’s first official test as a member of the royal family.

As it turns out, Prince Harry introduced Markle to Prince William and Middleton in January 2018, just one day after the Duchess of Cambridge celebrated her 36th birthday. This meant the Suits star had to bring a thoughtful gift to her first meeting with Middleton without knowing her at all.

While we’d likely freeze at the opportunity, Scobie and Durand confirmed that Markle had no trouble selecting a present.

“Meghan bought a present for the duchess, who had celebrated her birthday just a day earlier,” the excerpt reads. “The soft leather Smythson notebook helped to break the ice, as did Meghan’s cooing over then 20-month-old Charlotte.”

The authors are referring to Smythson notebooks, which are known for the brand’s signature Featherweight paper. Prices range from $59 to $335, depending on the size and format.

We’ll take one in every color.