Britain's Prince William extended birthday wishes to his estranged younger brother Harry, who turned 40 on Sunday. Harry's relationship with his family has become increasingly strained since he and his wife Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties and relocated to California in 2020.
William and Harry were once close, their bond strengthened by the tragic death of their mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. However, according to British media reports, the brothers have not spoken to each other in over two years.
A post on William and Catherine's official X account read: "Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex!" This message echoed an earlier one from the royal family's X account: "Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!" The latter post included a photo of Harry smiling, accompanied by an emoji of a birthday cake.
UK media noted that this was the first public birthday message for Harry since 2021. Despite his strained family ties, Harry expressed excitement about turning 40 in a BBC statement, saying, "I was anxious about 30, I'm excited about 40." He attributed his newfound perspective to fatherhood, stating, "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."
The brothers were last seen together at the late Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022, but they have maintained a distance at subsequent events, including their father's coronation in May last year. Harry's autobiography "Spare," published in January 2023, depicted William as both his "beloved brother" and his "arch-nemesis." Royal experts suggest that a reconciliation does not appear imminent.
