Buckingham Palace has addressed speculation surrounding a photograph used to celebrate Prince Harry's 40th birthday on social media.
According to Daily Mail Online, the Palace did not intentionally crop Meghan Markle out of the image, as some had initially suggested.
The photograph, which shows Prince Harry during a 2018 visit to Dublin, was posted on the official Royal Family's social media accounts to mark the Duke's milestone birthday. The clarification comes after eyebrows were raised when it appeared that the Duchess of Sussex had been removed from the original picture.
However, it has been revealed that two versions of the photograph were issued at the time – one featuring Harry alone and another with Meghan and other individuals present. The Palace reportedly used the unedited, close-up version of Harry provided by the Press Association rather than deliberately altering the image.
The birthday post, shared by King Charles and Queen Camilla's @RoyalFamily account on X (formerly Twitter), wished Prince Harry a "very happy 40th birthday." Prince William and Kate also shared the post, adding their own message of congratulations. This gesture surprised some, given the ongoing tensions between the brothers and the wider royal family.
Despite the seemingly cordial birthday wishes, the relationship between Prince Harry and the rest of the royal family remains strained. The Duke's recent transatlantic dash to see his father, King Charles, following the monarch's cancer diagnosis resulted in only a brief 45-minute meeting, highlighting the complexities of their current dynamic.
The birthday post and subsequent clarification about the photograph come during what has been described as a rollercoaster year for the royal family, with both King Charles and the Princess of Wales facing health challenges.
Prince Harry celebrated his 40th birthday in California, where he now resides with Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, after stepping down from royal duties. The day before his birthday, the Duke attended a charity tennis tournament in Los Angeles, honoring one of Meghan's close friends.
In recent months, Harry has been involved in various projects and initiatives. He tried his hand at skeleton bobsled during an Invictus Games training session in Canada and undertook quasi-royal tours to Colombia and Nigeria. The Duke also received the Pat Tillman Award for Service from ESPN, recognizing his efforts to use his platform for positive change.
Kelly McKee Zajfen, whose charity tennis tournament Harry attended, shared a heartfelt message on social media: "Extra special day too...HAPPY 40th Birthday H! May this trip around the sun be the best yet."
Prince Harry's legal battle with the UK Home Office over his security arrangements when visiting Britain continues to be a point of contention. While he lost a High Court challenge in February, he has been granted permission to appeal the decision. According to The Sunday Times, the case has reportedly caused frustration for King Charles.
Looking ahead, Harry is set to visit New York later this month for engagements related to his Archewell Foundation and other charitable organizations. Additionally, a new Netflix documentary series about the world of polo featuring the Duke is scheduled to air in December.
The clarification regarding the birthday photograph, Harry's ongoing projects, and his continued legal pursuits paint a picture of a prince navigating his new life outside the royal fold while still making headlines in the UK. As Prince Harry enters his fifth decade, the complexities of his relationship with the royal family and his efforts to carve out his own path continue to captivate public interest.
