Prince Harry recently received some unexpected royal birthday wishes. On Sunday, September 15, the Duke of Sussex celebrated his 40th birthday, and both his father, King Charles, and his brother, Prince William, acknowledged the milestone with public messages on social media. This marks the first time the royal family has officially celebrated Harry’s birthday since 2021.
Buckingham Palace, through the official Royal Family social media channels, shared a simple birthday message: “🎂 Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” along with a photo of Harry smiling. Prince William and Princess Kate also reposted the same photo on Instagram Stories and X (formerly Twitter) with their own celebratory caption, “Happy 40th Birthday to the Duke of Sussex.”
According to PEOPLE, Harry celebrated the day with a private gathering in Montecito, surrounded by family and friends, and may continue celebrating abroad with close companions.
These public birthday wishes are seen as surprising, considering the ongoing rift between Harry and the royal family. Some have interpreted these gestures as a potential olive branch from King Charles and Prince William. Despite Harry’s strained relationship with his brother and father, marked by missed communications and unanswered calls, insiders believe the rift with William is serious but not “irreparable.”
The last time Harry and William were seen together was during Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in 2022. At King Charles’ coronation in May 2023, Harry sat apart from his brother, and when he returned to the U.K. for the Invictus Games in May 2024, he did not meet with his family.
Reports suggest that Harry has been trying to address his ongoing concerns about security, which he believes his father could resolve. Despite their strained relationship, Harry remains focused on ensuring the safety of his wife, Meghan, and their children.
