The Royal Family’s official social media platforms, including the Instagram and X accounts of William and Kate, shared birthday greetings for the Duke of Sussex.
Prince Harry received a surprise for his birthday.
The Duke of Sussex marked his 40th birthday on Sunday, September 15, and his significant day was acknowledged through posts from his father, King Charles, 76, and his brother Prince William, 42, on social media. This event marked the first time since 2021 that the royal family publicly recognized Harry’s birthday.
On the official social media channels managed by King Charles’ office at Buckingham Palace, a post was made to honor Harry’s special day with a straightforward message.
” 🎂 Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” the post caption read, accompanied by a photo of Harry smiling.
Similarly, the Prince and Princess of Wales shared the Royal Family’s post on their Instagram Stories and on X (previously Twitter), adding their congratulatory note.
“Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to the Duke of Sussex,” the caption above the image stated.
Sources tell that Harry plans to celebrate his 40th birthday with a private gathering in Montecito, surrounded by family and friends. He is expected to carry on the celebration abroad with close friends after that.
The birthday messages are noteworthy, as public greetings are typically reserved for working royals, although they are occasionally given for significant milestones. Given the ongoing tensions between Harry and his brother, as well as his fraught relationship with their father, many view these rare birthday greetings as a possible peace offering from King Charles and Prince William.
In July, sources revealed that Harry’s calls and letters to King Charles often go unanswered, and his efforts to connect with Prince William—through texts, calls, and messages—have seen similar neglect.
While an insider described the rift with Prince William as “very bad,” they also mentioned it was not “irreparable.” The last time the brothers appeared united, alongside their wives, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, was after Queen Elizabeth’s passing in September 2022, when they greeted mourners outside Windsor Castle.
At King Charles’ coronation in May 2023, Harry remained on the periphery, seated two rows behind William and his family. Meghan stayed in the U.S. to celebrate their eldest son Prince Archie’s birthday.
When Prince Harry returned to the U.K. in May 2024 for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, he did not see either the King or Prince William. Harry’s spokesperson later explained that this was due to the King’s “full schedule.” However, sources close to Harry indicated that he wanted to discuss his ongoing legal battle for security—an issue he has pursued in court for over four years, believing his father could reinstate it. (Buckingham Palace has not commented on security matters, though a palace insider previously told that the idea of Charles managing Harry’s security is “wholly incorrect.”)
The family estrangement came to light in 2020 when Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, distanced themselves from their royal duties, resulting in harsh criticisms and lingering tensions. For Harry, the most pressing unresolved issue continues to be security.
Despite a positive interaction between father and son in February, following the King’s cancer diagnosis, communication has since deteriorated. People close to Prince Harry report that the King no longer responds to his son’s calls or letters.
“He gets ‘unavailable right now,'” a friend of Harry’s shared. “His calls go unanswered. He’s tried to check on the King’s health, but those attempts are ignored as well.”
Amid this estrangement, Harry remains deeply concerned about the safety of his wife and children.
A source familiar with the situation stated, “Harry is determined to protect his own family at all costs.”
