Wendy Williams' birthday wish is to be released from her court-ordered guardianship and return to work. The broadcaster and former talk show host was placed under a legal guardianship in 2022 following a series of health setbacks, including a reported alcohol relapse. She now resides at the Coterie, a retirement and wellness residence in Manhattan's Hudson Yards.

Now, after turning 61 on 18 July, she has told Page Six her current living situation is like a "luxury prison" and confirmed she is actively working with her legal team in an effort to reclaim her independence.

Despite celebrating her 61st birthday with family and friends at several New York restaurants this month, she added she remains focused on regaining her freedom.

She said when asked what her birthday wish would be for the coming year: "It's obvious: to get out of my guardianship, and go back to work in the most magnificent way."

Wendy also told Page Six her guardianship prevents her from making major life decisions, including where she lives and how she communicates.

According to Wendy, she is not allowed to have a mobile phone and relies instead on a landline that cannot receive incoming calls.

Wendy added she has been having "some very confident conversations" with her legal team, including attorney Joe Tacopina.

She also said about her living situation: "I like privacy… but this is too private!"

Wendy revealed she spent her birthday last year alone in a Connecticut facility, describing the experience as isolating but in some ways preferable.

She said: "For my last birthday, I was in Connecticut with nothing but grass and trees.

"Nobody came to visit me in Connecticut. That was actually a good thing, because it was so bad I didn't want people to see me there."

This year's celebrations were held at Delmonico's, Fresco by Scotto, and Le Marais.

Among the guests were Wendy's niece Alex Finnie, Alex's partner Eric Houston and friends including Alvina Alston, Mel Maxi and Tobi Rubinstein.

Wendy told Page Six even though she had enjoyed dining out in recent days, she still eats most meals alone in her room at the Coterie.

She described her interactions with fellow residents as limited to "hi and bye".

Wendy was previously married to Kevin Hunter and has two children, Brooke and Nick.

Her former daytime talk show, The Wendy Williams Show, ran for over a decade before ending in 2021.