The Firm’s official Twitter account has wished the Duke of Sussex a formal happy birthday in a post this morning, something it has not done since he moved across the pond

The Royal Family has broken with recent precedent and wished Prince Harry a happy birthday with a post on social media.

The Duke of Sussex, who turns 40 today, is reportedly spending the day with Meghan Markle and his two children, five-year-old Archie and Lilibet, two. While today and Monday will be spent with friends and stateside family, the Prince has also been tipped for a face-to-face olive branch chat with his UK-bound dad, King Charles III, and the Firm has already released its first message of celebration.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, this morning, the Royal Family’s official account wished Harry a happy 40th birthday. While it wouldn’t seem so unusual for the royals to send a message on a family member’s birthday, the official account has not done so for Harry in some time.

Prince Harry will reportedly speak with King Charles III today ( 
Image:
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

The post said: “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” Only working royals usually get birthday wishes on the official Royal Family social media accounts.

The last time Harry got birthday wishes on the Royal Family account was three years ago in 2021 when the late Queen was still alive. The Prince and Princess of Wales ‘ account last publicly sent him birthday wishes in the same year. His 40th birthday also presents a departure for the Prince, he told the BBC, as he feels “excited” about entering a new decade.

He told the broadcaster that being a dad and “sharpening my focus” were two things that have changed his perspective on the big day this year. Harry told the BBC: “I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40. 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. Bring on the next decade.” Harry is expected to celebrate his 40th birthday with family and friends before spending some time away with a group of close pals, according to reports.

The Sussexes and Waleses have reportedly been embroiled in a feud for much of the 2020s so far ( 
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Getty Images)

Other royal family accounts, such as Prince William and Princess Kate’s, are yet to issue similar messages, although these could come later in the day. Harry has been embroiled in a feud with his father and brother since he and wife Meghan Markle dramatically quit as working royals in 2020.

The feud was fuelled by Harry railing against his family in his 2022 bombshell Netflix series and controversial memoir, Spare, released last year. He remains estranged from his brother William, which was highlighted by the siblings reportedly not talking when they attended a family funeral last month. Previous reports suggested they had not talked in over two years since the late Queen died.