Prince William and Princess Catherine join the King and Queen in wishing Prince Harry a happy 40th birthday on social media

The public birthday wishes from both the King and Queen, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, for Prince Harry’s 40th birthday represent a notable shift, given the strained relations in recent years. This marks the first time since 2021 that the Royal Family has acknowledged Harry’s birthday publicly, which could signal a softening of tensions or a gesture of goodwill.

The official X, formerly Twitter account of the Royal Family, posted a birthday greeting to the Duke of Sussex this morning, as Harry prepares to celebrate his 40th birthday across the Pond 

The Royal Family’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) posted the first message early in the morning, followed by a similar greeting from William and Kate later. While it's a simple gesture, the public nature of the posts may be seen as an attempt to mend relations, particularly between Harry and his brother, Prince William. The messages might reflect a desire to maintain civility, even if deeper family dynamics remain unresolved.

Prince Harry also received a surprise birthday message from Prince William and Kate just a few hours after the King and Queen posted the message

Prince William's public birthday greeting to Prince Harry, despite their ongoing tensions, indeed came as a surprise, fueling speculation that it could be a subtle olive branch aimed at easing the strained relationship between the brothers. Given the uncertainty about whether William would acknowledge Harry's milestone, the public gesture holds significance.

Prince Harry, Prince William and King Charles photographed together in July 2018; while the King has wished his son a happy birthday this morning, it's unclear whether Prince William will make a public gesture to his estranged sibling

The earlier message from the King and Queen was simple but thoughtful, featuring a photo of Harry from 2018, a time when he was still a working royal. Their message, accompanied by a birthday cake emoji, reflects a degree of warmth and perhaps an effort to preserve public civility despite the family’s internal challenges.

Prince Harry and Prince William at the unveiling of their mother's statue in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace on what would have been her 60th birthday 

While these gestures may not resolve the deeper issues at play, they indicate that the Royal Family is willing to publicly acknowledge Prince Harry’s milestone birthday, offering a potential pathway toward healing the rift between the siblings.

Prince William and Prince Harry arrive at the unveiling of a statue of their mother, Princess Diana at The Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace, London on July 1, 2021

The Prince and Princess of Wales' message to Prince Harry, wishing him a happy 40th birthday via their @KensingtonRoyal account, follows a similar gesture from King Charles and Queen Camilla. These early public greetings from senior royals show a conscious effort to acknowledge the Duke of Sussex’s milestone birthday, despite the well-known tensions within the family.

Prince Harry and Prince William sit together on the steps of Highgrove House wearing army uniforms in July 1986

Prince Harry, who is marking the occasion privately at his home in Montecito with Meghan and their children, will reportedly celebrate further with a holiday alongside close friends. Meghan is expected to remain at home with Archie and Lilibet. The early timing of these birthday messages from the Royal Family, shared before the west coast of the U.S. woke up, could be seen as a thoughtful move to ensure Harry received recognition on his special day.

Sources close to Harry, who turns 40 next week, told the Daily Telegraph that he is settled in California with Meghan, 43, and their children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three. Prince Harry and Meghan pictured with their children in December 2021 

While these public gestures don’t necessarily indicate a full reconciliation, they represent a positive step toward keeping lines of communication open and perhaps addressing the distance that has grown between Prince Harry and his family over the past few years.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Invictus Games in September 2023 

Prince Harry's 40th birthday arrives during a particularly complex chapter for the Royal Family, marked by increasing distance between Harry and his relatives. His recent travels to Nigeria and Colombia with Meghan, as well as their return to the UK for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, have highlighted the couple's active global presence. However, this contrasts with Harry’s more strained personal ties within the family, particularly following a period of explosive media appearances, including interviews, TV programs, and the publication of his memoir Spare. These events have seemingly deepened the divide between Harry and the rest of the Royal Family.

Prince Harry attends The Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service at St Paul's Cathedral on May 8

Notably, during Harry's brief visit to the UK last month for the memorial service of his uncle, Lord Fellowes, he did not see King Charles, and they are reportedly not speaking. His brother, Prince William, also attended the service, but the two did not interact—a stark contrast to Harry’s 30th birthday, when the brothers celebrated together at a black-tie event at Clarence House.

Prince Harry and Meghan seen during their visit to Colombia on August 15

This shift from past camaraderie to current estrangement underscores how much the dynamics within the family have changed over the past decade. While public birthday messages from the Royal Family may reflect a gesture of goodwill, the personal relationship between Harry, his father, and his brother remains fragile.

Despite the ongoing tensions between Prince Harry and the Royal Family, it appears that King Charles is still intent on maintaining a connection with his son. A source revealed that the monarch plans to reach out to Prince Harry via Skype on his 40th birthday, reaffirming the "still a lot of love" between father and son. The call is expected to take place Sunday afternoon UK time, timed so that Harry will receive it when he wakes up in California.

However, there seems to be no such effort from Prince William, with sources indicating that the brothers remain distant and are not expected to speak on Harry's milestone day. This highlights the depth of the rift between the siblings, despite public birthday messages from William and Kate.

The planned call from King Charles to Harry on his birthday demonstrates the complexities of their relationship—strained yet underscored by an enduring bond between father and son, even if their personal interaction is limited. The brothers, however, continue to remain on separate paths with little sign of reconciliation.

The relationship between Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, has continued to deteriorate, with little indication of reconciliation on the horizon. While Harry's 40th birthday highlights a major milestone, it also emphasizes the growing rift between the siblings. According to sources, there will be no transatlantic call between the brothers to mark the occasion, a significant shift from earlier years when they celebrated such events together.

The deepened estrangement stems, in part, from Harry’s memoir Spare, published in January. In the book, Harry accused William of physical assault during a dispute over Meghan Markle and described several tense family moments, including a confrontation with his brother and father after Prince Philip’s funeral. Harry also depicted William as his "arch-nemesis" and made critical remarks about other members of the Royal Family, including Queen Consort Camilla and King Charles.

Their strained relationship was further highlighted earlier this month when both William and Harry attended their uncle Robert Fellowes' funeral. Witnesses reported that the brothers kept their distance and did not interact during the service.

Despite the personal tensions, friends of Harry have suggested that he remains open to improving his relationship with his father, King Charles. However, Harry is reportedly seeking an apology from William before considering any formal return to royal duties. Although Harry is not pursuing a permanent return to the Royal Family, sources claim he might be willing to take on a temporary role if asked by his father.

In contrast to the unresolved tensions, Harry seems content with his personal life in California with Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet. He has reportedly turned away from Hollywood publicists and reached out to old friends for advice on navigating his current situation.

Ahead of his 40th birthday, Harry shared his excitement for the milestone and expressed how becoming a father has shaped his perspective on life, making him more focused and driven to do good in the world. He is set to celebrate privately at the couple’s Montecito home before enjoying a weekend getaway with his close friends, while Meghan stays home with the children.