The Royal Family has sent its first public birthday wish to Prince Harry in three years to mark his 40th birthday.
Prince Harry has turned 40 years old. Credit Dan Charity – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Harry has not had a birthday message from the Royal Family’s official account since Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022, so fans were delighted to see his birthday marked once again.
The royal, who is dad to Archie and Lilibet, turned 40 years old on Sunday, September 15.
The Royal Family’s official X (better known as Twitter) account marked the occasion with a sweet tribute post.
The post featured an emoji of a birthday cake, along with the message: “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!”
Along with the message was a photo of Harry smiling broadly, taken in July 2018 during a visit to DogPatch Labs in Dublin, Ireland, when he was still a working royal.
It is the first time Harry’s birthday has been marked on social media since the Queen’s death, after King Charles III implemented a new protocol around social media.
Prince Harry’s birthday hadn’t been marked last year after Charles had limited social media posts to being about working members of the royal family when he took the throne, according to reports.
An insider told the New York Post that members of Harry’s family will likely also speak with him today, explaining: “Harry will hear from his family.
“It’s very likely that Charles and Kate [Middleton] will likely phone Harry to wish him well on his birthday.”
The insider also cast doubt on whether his older brother, Prince William, will join Kate in speaking with him, “given everything that has gone on.”
Things are allegedly still fraught between Harry and William. Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
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Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, has a star-studded party planned for him, according to reports. Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala
Harry has famously had a difficult relationship with his loved ones in recent years, with tensions apparently coming to a head when he and his wife, Meghan Markle, decided to leave the UK to live in the US, stepping down as senior royals in the process.
Harry had cited fears for his wife and children’s safety in the UK, due to the intense media attention they had faced.
His memoir, titled Spare, had also allegedly caused some friction within his family, as Harry detailed the arguments he’d had with his older brother.
However, it seems he will have a busy birthday weekend nonetheless, as Meghan has reportedly arranged a star-studded party for Harry in Montecito, where they live.
After his birthday festivities are over, Harry is set to travel to New York to “advance a number of his patronages and philanthropic initiatives,” with his trip coinciding with the UN General Assembly High-level Week and Climate Week.
He is also expected to receive a massive $8.5 million cash bonus on turning 40, thanks to arrangements made by his late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
