Prince Harry Receives Birthday Wishes From The Royal Family As He Turns 40

The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, has finally turned 40, and it came with a heartwarming surprise that many didn’t see coming.

This shocking gesture is a 180 from last year when neither Prince Harry nor his wife, Meghan Markle, received any birthday messages from the royal family,

As the duke enters a new decade in his life, things might be looking up for his strained relationship with his family in the UK.

The official royal family account on X (formerly Twitter) gave a nod to the 40-year-old prince by wishing him a happy birthday, a move that many did not see coming due to the silent treatment Harry received last year.

The royal family’s message read, “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!”

Along with the birthday message was a cheerful photo of Harry beaming with a bright smile while rocking a grey suit and white shirt.

The photo was reportedly taken in 2018, during a visit with Meghan to the “Digital Docklands” in Dublin, when Harry was still a working royal family member.

To add to the special moment, the official account of Harry’s elder brother, Prince William, and his wife, Kate, @KensingtonRoyal, quoted the royal family’s tweet with their own message.

They wrote, “Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex!”

On social media, some royal fans were full of praise and kind words for Harry as he turned 40. Several of them gathered under the royal family’s post to share their birthday wishes to the duke in the comments.

A person wrote, “Happy birthday to Diana’s little Spencer. A true British hero who is inspiring so many of us around the world.”

Another noted, “A very very Happy Birthday to the People’s Prince, that is Prince Harry! Hope you have the best day that you truly deserve, for the incredible, loving funny, Humanitarian being that you are!! You are truly Loved!! Happy 40th Birthday.”

A third individual commented, “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a joyful 40th! Here’s to another year filled with happiness and meaningful endeavors.”

“Happy Birthday to the kindest, funniest, most relatable royal,” another person said.

The duke reportedly plans to celebrate the milestone quietly on Sunday with Meghan and their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.

According to Sky News, Harry’s 40th birthday celebrations might also include a weekend getaway with his closest friends to mark the special occasion.

It was previously reported that the US-based royals intended to mark the day with an “A-list” party organized by the Duchess of Sussex.

A source revealed the alleged plans for the party to PageSix, including that it’ll be held in Montecito, California, where Harry and Meghan moved to after resigning as working royals.

Harry has another sweet surprise ready for him on his birthday, as he is expected to inherit £8 million ($10.5 million) from his late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.

It is believed that Queen Mother began setting up this trust fund for him when Harry was just ten.

At the time of her planning, Elizabeth, then 94, allocated a tax-free £19 million ($25 million) for her great-grandchildren. The inheritance was designed to be distributed in two parts: the first when William and Harry turned 21 and the second on their 40th birthdays.

According to a former palace aide, this trust fund was established to allow the Queen Mother to pass a portion of her estate to her great-grandchildren in a tax-efficient manner.

They explained, “It was a way in which some of her estate could be ring-fenced for them.”

Reports also suggested that Harry may have received a larger share of the inheritance compared to his older brother, William, who is now 42.

In the lead-up to his milestone birthday, Harry’s spokesperson shared how the prince’s outlook on life has changed in a statement to BBC News.

“I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40,” Harry said. “Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world.”

The statement added: “Becoming a father of two incredibly kind and funny kids has given me a fresh perspective on life, as well as sharpening my focus in all my work. Being a dad is one of life’s greatest joys and has only made me more driven and more committed to making this world a better place.”