Prince Harry turned 40 last Sunday far from the family he’s estranged from, but the royals reached out with birthday wishes amid their ongoing split.
“I wish the Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” the official royal family social media accounts posted, complete with birthday cake emoji, alongside a photo of a smiling Prince Harry.
It was the first public birthday message Harry has received from the royal family’s official account since 2021. The royal family’s accounts are managed by King Charles’ office at Buckingham Palace.
His brother and sister-in-law, Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton, echoed the message by sharing the royal family’s post on X with the words “Congratulations on your 40th birthday to the Duke of Sussex!” from the official account of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Happy 40th birthday to the Duke of Sussex! https://t.co/ZKJbYDmV6L
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) September 15, 2024
Some royal watchers saw the messages as one olive feltaccording to People. Birthdays are usually only publicly recognized for working royals. Harry and wife Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United Stateswhere they raise their three children in California.
Harry celebrated privately in Montecito with friends and family, People reported, with plans to continue partying abroad with close friends.
The couple have since been very vocal about the treatment they felt subjected to as senior working royals, voicing their concerns in a candid interview with Oprah Winfrey. Harry also wrote in detail about his relationships and family in his memoir “Spare Parts” reveals more internal family work and blissful details.
Now he may be turning his attention from the past to the future.
“He’s on one type of crossroads,” royal watcher and author Sally Bedell Smith told the Associated Press. “And he seems to be struggling with how he wants to move forward.”
He was optimistic as he approached the big birthday, according to BBC News.
“Whatever age, my the mission is to keep showing up and do good in the world, he tells BBC News.
With News Wire Services