Why Prince William's Birthday Message To Prince Harry Might Have Been A Royal Order
Prince William, his wife Princess Kate and King Charles III wished Prince Harry a happy 40th birthday on their respective social media accounts. The message, which was shared last weekend came as a surprise to many of the royal family's followers and supporters, given that it is believed that Prince Harry isn't on the best of terms with his family and the royal institution.
Following Harry's distancing from the royal family, after he stepped back as a working member and moved to California with his wife Meghan Markle back in 2020, their joint interview with Oprah in 2021 and the release of Harry's memoir Spare in 2023, the breakdown of his relationship with his wider family has been clear to see.
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Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex! https://t.co/ZKJbYDmV6L
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) September 15, 2024
Which is why, when Prince William took to Instagram and Twitter to wish his younger brother 'happy birthday', many onlookers were left wondering what the post could signify. While some hoped that it was an indicator of the pair rebuilding their relationship, some believe a more likely reason was that it's as a result of the late Queen Elizabeth II's royal order. A birthday message was also shared by King Charles III.
According to InStyle, Richard Palmer, a royal correspondent and commentator, stated that in 2022, the former Queen decreed that non-working royals' birthdays would be celebrated (in this case marked on social media) if they end in a zero.
Neither King Charles III nor Prince William have wished Prince Harry a public happy birthday since 2021, marking this year's posts a memorable occasion.
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