The King and his family have wished Prince Harry a happy 40th birthday in in their first public message to him since 2021.

A post, shared on the official royal family’s X account today, read: ‘Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!’.

The message, which already has more than 5,000 likes, was accompanied with a smiling photo of Harry and an emoji of a birthday cake.

It is the first time the royal family has shared a public message for the prince since his birthday three years ago.

Prince William and Kate have since shared the post on their X account, writing above it: ‘Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex!

Harry is spending the milestone with his wife Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

It’s believed he is then heading away for a get-together with close friends.

The birthday message and photo posted on X this morning (Picture: @RoyalFamily/PA Wire)
In comments released to the BBC, the duke said: ‘I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40’, and described how fatherhood had given him a renewed sense of purpose to make ‘this world a better place’.

Harry enters his fifth decade in what has been a rollercoaster year for the royal family, with both the King and the Princess of Wales diagnosed with cancer.

But the duke, who lives in California after stepping down from the working monarchy, remains estranged from his brother the Prince of Wales and has a strained relationship with Charles.