The King and Queen wished Prince Harry a happy birthday on social media, posting a message to mark the Duke of Sussex’s 40th birthday this morning.
The Royal Family’s official Twitter account X posted birthday wishes for Prince Harry at around 8:30am UK time.
The simple message, punctuated with a birthday cake emoji, read: “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!”
The post shared a photo of Prince Harry looking radiant in a smart grey suit and white shirt. The image was taken in 2018, during a visit to the “Digital Docklands” in Dublin, when the Prince was still a working royal.
The Duke of Sussex is due to celebrate his birthday privately in Montecito, where he now lives with his wife Meghan, 43, and their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.
There had been no indication whether King Charles, 75, and Prince William, 42, would post public happy birthday messages today, but the King and Queen clearly wanted to mark the occasion early, hours before the US West Coast wakes up.
The Royal Family’s official Twitter account, X, posted a birthday greeting to the Duke of Sussex this morning, as Harry prepares to celebrate his 40th birthday across the pond.
So far, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have not commented on Harry’s big day.
It is understood Prince Harry will then go on holiday with his “closest friends” to celebrate his birthday, while Meghan stays at home with their two children.
Harry and Meghan have travelled to Nigeria and Colombia in recent months, while the couple also returned to the UK to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
But the duke’s 40th birthday follows a tumultuous period for the Royal Family, with bombshell interviews, TV shows and a book seemingly alienating Harry further from his family.
Prince Harry, Prince William and King Charles pictured together in July 2018; while the king wished his son a happy birthday this morning, it is unclear whether Prince William will make a public gesture towards his estranged brother.
Prince Harry and Prince William at the unveiling of their mother’s statue in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace on what would have been her 60th birthday.
Prince William and Prince Harry arrive for the unveiling of a statue of their mother Princess Diana in The Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London on July 1, 2021.
Harry did not see his father last month while he was briefly in the UK for the memorial service for his uncle, Lord Fellowes, and they are “no longer speaking”, according to US celebrity magazine People.
Prince William also attended the service, but the brothers did not speak to each other. Today’s event is in stark contrast to Harry’s 30th birthday, when he celebrated with his brother at a gala party at Clarence House, their father’s home in London.
Despite family tensions overshadowing Harry’s birthday, a source said Charles will check in with his son as soon as he wakes up as there is “still a lot of love” between father and son.
The monarch is expected to call his youngest son via Skype on Sunday afternoon UK time, so the two can speak as soon as the Duke of Sussex wakes up in California.
But there will be “no calls” between Prince William and Prince Harry because the brothers “don’t even speak to each other,” another source said.
The Duke of Sussex should expect to hear from his father early on his 40th birthday, a royal source told The Associated Press. Sunday Expresswho assured that “there is still a lot of love” in the family.
The source added: “They often use Skype when communicating because they can see each other and everything is set up by the staff to run smoothly.
But while Harry and William have traditionally celebrated major moments together, a source told the BBC that Mirror that “there will be no transatlantic phone calls between the two on Harry’s big day.”
The source added: “What a difference the years have made. When Harry turned 30, it seemed like nothing could come between him and his brother.
‘Together, they were destined to become the new face of royalty, injecting much-needed modernisation into The Firm.
“But now, William and Harry aren’t even speaking to each other. Before, they always celebrated important events together, but there won’t be a transatlantic phone call between the two on Harry’s big day.”
The rift between the brothers deepened after Prince Harry published his memoir, Spare, last January, with the Prince of Wales reportedly suggesting there is “no chance” Harry could be welcomed back into the Firm.
In the book, Harry attacked some members of the royal family. He accused William of assaulting him during an argument over Meghan and claimed that his brother and father confronted him after Prince Philip’s funeral “looking for a fight.”
Harry also alleged that William and Kate urged him to wear his infamous Nazi costume.
Prince Harry and Prince William sit together on the steps of Highgrove House wearing military uniforms in July 1986.
Sources close to Harry, who turns 40 next week, told the Daily Telegraph that he is based in California with Meghan, 43, and their children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three. Prince Harry and Meghan pictured with their children in December 2021
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will attend the Invictus Games in September 2023
He portrayed his brother as his “archenemy,” Queen Consort Camilla as an “evil stepmother,” and Charles as an emotionally stunted and ineffectual “old man.”
William and Harry have not spoken for months and are currently out of contact.
Earlier this month it was revealed that both William and Harry attended the funeral of their uncle Robert Fellowes, but witnesses said they did not see the brothers speaking.
They reportedly sat apart at the back of St Mary’s Church in Snettisham, where the service in honour of Eton-educated Lord Fellowes was taking place.
Sources said the couple arrived “very discreetly” and that no one would have noticed they were there.
According to The Mirror, Harry’s friends have said he is determined to improve his relationship with his father, especially given his health problems.
They said the duke would still seek an apology from his brother if he represented the family in any way.
And reports claimed last week that Prince Harry will not return to royal duties unless William apologises, but would be willing to “help” the Firm if his father asks him to.
Sources close to the Duke of Sussex have suggested he is happy with his decision to step down from his royal role, the Mirror reported.
Prince Harry attends the Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8
Prince Harry and Meghan seen during their visit to Colombia on August 15
But they say he would be open to a temporary role within the Royal Family if his father asked him to help.
This comes after the Mail on Sunday revealed last week that the Duke had distanced himself from his “Hollywood publicists” and had resorted to texting former confidants “from his old life” about planning a return from exile in the US.
However, sources stressed that Harry and Meghan, who have spent the past four years living in California with their two children, are not seeking a permanent return.
After celebrating his 40th birthday at the couple’s £11m home in Montecito, Prince Harry… ‘enjoying a weekend getaway with some of his closest friends,’ according to a report by The sun.
Meghan is expected to stay in California with Archie and Lilibet.
Before turning 40, Prince Harry told the BBC: “I was looking forward to turning 30, I’m excited to turn 40.”
She added: “No matter what age I am, my mission is to keep showing up and doing good in the world.”
Speaking about the importance of children, he said: ‘Becoming a father to two incredibly kind and funny children has given me a new perspective on life, as well as sharpened my focus on all my work.
“Being a father is one of life’s greatest joys and has only made me more motivated and committed to making this world a better place.”