Prince William and Kate Middleton have joined King Charles and Queen Camilla in publicly wishing Prince Harry a happy 40th birthday on social media for the first time
since 2021. The birthday greetings, posted earlier today, suggest a possible improvement in relations between Prince Harry and his royal relatives.
The Royal Family's official X account, formerly known as Twitter, shared a birthday message to Prince Harry at around 8:30 a.m. UK time. A few hours later, William and Kate followed suit, posting a similar message from their official account.
Given the ongoing tension between Prince William and Prince Harry, it was unclear whether William would publicly acknowledge his brother's milestone birthday. However, the gesture may be seen as a step toward reconciliation between the two brothers.
King Charles and Queen Camilla's message, accompanied by a cake emoji, simply read: "Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!" William and Kate's post echoed the sentiment, stating: "Wishing a happy 40th birthday to the Duke of Sussex!"
The birthday greeting from William and Kate came as a surprise, particularly given the strained relationship between the siblings. The message also included a photo of Harry from 2018, taken during a visit to Dublin when he was still a working royal. In the image, Prince Harry is seen smiling in a grey suit and white shirt.
Prince Harry is celebrating his 40th birthday privately in Montecito, California, where he resides with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet. There had been no prior indication that King Charles or Prince William would publicly mark the occasion, but both the King and Queen, as well as William and Kate, took the opportunity to send their best wishes before the day began on the West Coast of the U.S.
In the coming days, Prince Harry is expected to continue his birthday celebrations by heading off on a trip with close friends, while Meghan stays home with their children. This birthday follows a period of tension between Prince Harry and the rest of the Royal Family, fueled by his interviews, documentaries, and the release of his memoir. Nonetheless, today’s public greetings from his family hint at a potential thaw in relations. Photo by DoD News, Wikimedia commons.
