Prince Harry Celebrates 40th Birthday Amid Royal Family Rift
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, marked his 40th birthday with warm wishes from his family members, Prince William and King Charles III, despite the ongoing rift within the royal family.
The official royal family Twitter account, managed by Charles' office at Buckingham Palace, tweeted, "Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!" accompanied by a cheerful photo of Harry during a visit to Dogpatch Labs in Dublin, Ireland back in 2018.
Prince Charles and Kate Middleton's official account also joined in the birthday celebrations, reposting the message and adding, "Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex!"
This public acknowledgment of Harry's birthday comes after a period of limited social media posts following Queen Elizabeth II's passing in September 2022. The new protocol, implemented by Charles, focused on highlighting working members of the royal family, excluding Harry and Meghan Markle who stepped back from their royal duties in 2020.
Despite the strained relationships, sources reveal that Harry is expected to receive birthday wishes via phone calls from some of his estranged relatives, including Charles and Kate.
While Harry won't be celebrating with his immediate family, he plans to enjoy a birthday party organized by Meghan in Montecito, California, followed by a weekend getaway with close friends in the mountains.
Since stepping back from royal duties and relocating to North America, Harry's relationship with Charles and William has been tense. The tensions escalated following the couple's revealing interview with Oprah Winfrey, where Meghan disclosed instances of racism within the royal family.
Harry further opened up about his struggles with his father and brother in his memoir, "Spare," released earlier this year. Despite attending a family funeral together recently, reports suggest that the brothers did not interact.
One of the key unresolved issues between Harry and Charles is the lack of reinstated security detail for Harry and his family during visits to the UK.
As Harry enters his 40s, the dynamics within the royal family continue to be complex, with efforts to mend relationships amidst ongoing challenges and differences.
