The British royal family has publicly wished Prince Harry a happy 40th birthday, marking the first such public acknowledgment of his birthday since 2021.
The royal family shared a post on X and Instagram that read: “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” accompanied by a picture of Harry smiling and a cake emoji.
An hour later, Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, followed suit by sharing their own message, “Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex!” Despite the strained relations between Harry and his brother William, the public birthday wishes came as a surprise.
Since stepping down as a senior royal in 2020 and moving to California with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Harry’s relationship with his family has been tense, especially after the release of his memoir, Spare. In the book, Harry referred to William as his “arch-nemesis” and accused him of physically attacking him.
Though Harry visited King Charles following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year, their interactions have remained brief, and he has had minimal contact with other senior royals during recent visits to the UK.
Harry is expected to celebrate his milestone birthday with Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, before taking a trip with close friends. Reflecting on turning 40, he told the BBC that he feels “excited” about the milestone and that fatherhood has deepened his commitment to making the world a better place.
