Prince Harry to Celebrate 40th Birthday Surrounded by Loved Ones Amid Royal Tensions

Prince Harry is gearing up to celebrate his 40th birthday surrounded by friends and family on September 15, with a special party organized by his wife, Meghan Markle. The festivities will take place in Montecito, California, where the couple resides with their two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.

Following the birthday party, reports indicate that Harry plans a weekend getaway in the mountains with close friends, providing a refreshing break from the ongoing drama surrounding his strained relationships with King Charles III and his brother, Prince William.

Tensions between Harry and the royal family have been palpable, especially after their last encounter at their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes’ funeral in Snettisham, Norfolk, where the once inseparable brothers maintained their distance and did not speak. “They arrived very discreetly,” a source revealed to the Sun, while a local noted, “William and Harry were both there but we never saw them speak to each other.”

Further complicating matters, it has been reported that William does not want Harry to attend his coronation, should it occur following Charles’ recent cancer diagnosis.

The rift deepened after Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal duties in 2020. Their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which they accused royal family members of questioning the skin color of their son Archie, added fuel to the fire. In his memoir, Spare, released in January 2023, Harry revealed the competitive dynamic between him and William, stemming from their “heir and spare” labels, and even claimed that William physically attacked him during a disagreement about Meghan.

As Harry approaches this milestone birthday, he remains at odds with his father, as King Charles has not reinstated security for Harry and his family during their travels to the UK. Despite the challenges, Harry’s upcoming celebration promises to be a moment of joy amidst the turmoil.