Royal news live: Prince Harry receives birthday wishes from family in first public message for two years
The royal family have wished the Duke of Sussex a “very happy 40th birthday” in a sign of tense relations thawing between them.
The statement, complete with a picture of a smiling Harry and an emoji of a birthday cake, said simply: “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!”
The royal family haven’t publically acknowledged Harry’s birthday since since the late Queen’s passing in 2022.
Harry, who lives in California, is spending his birthday on Sunday with the Duchess of Sussex and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
He is then said to be heading away for a gathering with close friends.
According to reports, Harry is starting to soften his stance on the rift that saw him leave the royal family.
The Duke of Sussex is understood to feel he has “said his piece”, and now favours a less combative approach.
He said becoming a father to his two children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, had given him a “fresh perspective on life” and made him more committed to making the world a better place.
Key Points
- Kate releases deeply moving video as she announces completion of cancer treatment
- Royal family wish Prince Harry a ‘very happy’ 40th birthday
- William and Kate donate to food bank after thieves raid its warehouse
- ‘I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40’ Prince Harry celebrates landmark on Sunday
- Harry and Meghan may return to UK for Christmas
Harry describes fatherhood as giving him renewed purpose as he turns 40
11:17 , Barney Davis
Prince Harry is spending his milestone birthday on Sunday with Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
He is then said to be heading away for a gathering with close friends.
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.
When the King’s shock health news was announced in February, Harry made a transatlantic dash to see him but his meeting with his father was kept to just 45 minutes.
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”.
1/3 Brits would welcome Harry back to UK as working royal -poll
10:17 , Barney Davis
A poll for The Mail on Sunday has revealed that a third of Britons would welcome Prince Harry back into the Royal fold on a permanent basis.
While more than 60 per cent of the public are still opposed or undecided about a comeback, Harry has seen his support for his comeback icrease from 25 per cent in March to 34 per cent this month, according to Ipsos.
It comes as tensions between the royal family and the estranged Duke of Susex appeared to be thawing as they wished him “a very happy 40th birthday”.
It is the first time the royal family has shared a public message for Harry since wishing him a happy birthday in 2021.
Harry is spending his milestone birthday on Sunday with Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Royal family wish Prince Harry a ‘very happy’ 40th birthday
09:13 , Barney Davis
The royal family have wished the Duke of Sussex a “very happy 40th birthday” in a sign of tense relations thawing between them.
The statement, complete with a picture of a smiling Harry and an emoji of a birthday cake, said simply: “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!”
Harry, who lives in California, is spending his birthday on Sunday with the Duchess of Sussex and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Comment: Harry at 40 might miss Britain, but the uncomfortable truth is we may miss him more
09:00 , Jabed Ahmed
A decade ago he launched his greatest project and was adored by his father and brother, but 10 years later things couldn’t be more different. While Harry insists he is growing into the man he wants to be, Tessa Dunlop argues that his family misses his presence whether they want to or not
Read the full article below:
Harry at 40 might miss Britain, but the truth is we may miss him more
William makes unannounced private visit to helicopter base
08:15 , Jabed Ahmed
The Prince of Wales surprised helicopter staff on Friday after making an unannounced visit to a base in Oxfordshire.
Prince William, 42, turned up at the official opening of the new Airbus Helicopters headquarters at Oxford Airport.
His appearance was not announced in advance and it is understood he was there in a private capacity.
According to The Telegraph, he was invited by Airbus because of his connection with London Air Ambulance, of which he is a patron.
He reportedly attended wearing a blue jumper and spoke informally with staff. He was also shown around the newly delivered Airbus H135, bound for London Air Ambulance, which was on display in the hanger.
Harry celebrates 40th birthday with Meghan, Archie and Lili
07:35 , Jabed Ahmed
The Duke of Sussex is celebrating his 40th birthday.
Harry is spending his milestone birthday on Sunday with Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
He is then said to be heading away for a gathering with close friends.
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 being 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 faces a strained relationship with Charles.
When the King’s shock health news was announced in February, Harry made a transatlantic dash to see him but his meeting with his father was kept to just 45 minutes.
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 and Meghan may return to UK for Christmas
07:00 , Barney Davis
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may return to the UK for Christmas, after reportedly receiving an invite from his uncle, Earl Spencer, at his home in Althorp House.
The couple are said to have received an invite to join their celebrations, along with their two children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
If they were to attend, it would be Meghan’s first trip back to the UK since the late Queen’s funeral in 2022.
Speaking to OK! magazine, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said: “Well, if an offer has indeed been made – which seems quite logical – and if they accepted, it would fly in the face of everything Harry has said about security. He has repeatedly said he believes it’s unsafe to bring his wife and children to the UK without a guarantee of official security.”
Prince George has his first flying lesson aged just 11
06:00 , Barney Davis
Prince George is said to have enjoyed his first ever flying lesson.
The Prince and Princess of Wales’s eldest is said to have flown with an instructor as his parents watched from the ground at White Waltham Airfield near Maidenhead, Berks, a 20-minute drive from their Windsor home.
An onlooker at the Berkshire airfield told The Sun: “He loved it. It’s the right time to start.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales watched their son soar into the air and come back to land safely just under an hour later.
Prince William admitted he would “love to fly helicopters” again as he paid a visit to Wales Air Ambulance headquarters in Llanelli, South Wales earlier in the week.
The future King spoke about how much he missed the role, and suggested he would come back and join the Wales Air Ambulance for a weekend.
“I can’t stop talking about helicopters and medical kits and all sorts,” William said. “I’m sorry I take ages waffling about it. I miss it all. I’m quite keen to stay a bit longer.
“I’m thinking I might come back for a weekend at some point. I saw the Cardiff team a while ago and said to them I’ll come back and join them.”
Watch: A look back at Prince Harry’s life as he turns 40
04:00 , Barney Davis
In Diana’s arms to laughing with William: Look back at Harry’s life as he turns 40
Kate Middleton’s cancer timeline
02:00 , Barney Davis
The princess has finished chemotherapy but said her “path to healing and full recovery is long”:
Kate Middleton’s cancer battle: The timeline of her ‘incredibly tough’ nine months
Prince and princess help restock foodbank raided by thieves
Saturday 14 September 2024 23:59 , Barney Davis
Prince William and Kate have made a donation to a south London food bank where thousands of pounds’ worth of items were stolen.
Thieves radied Southwark Foodbank, in Peckham High Street, on Sunday, stealing about £3,000 of food and hygiene products, as well as a laptop.
The food bank thanked the prince and princess on social media, saying it had been “overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from across society”.
Royal travel costs soar by £300,000 despite fewer engagements
Friday 13 September 2024 22:00 , Jane Dalton
Royal travel costs soared by hundreds of thousands of pounds last year despite fewer engagements due to the illness of the King and Princess of Wales, figures show:
Royal travel costs soar by £300,000 despite fewer engagements, figures show
In pictures: Significant moments for Harry
Friday 13 September 2024 17:45 , Jane Dalton
Anne watches sheep dog trials
Turns outhe Princess Royal is patron of the International Sheep Dog Society.
Sussexes undertake quasi-royal tours
Friday 13 September 2024 15:00 , Jane Dalton
In the past year the Sussexes have undertaken quasi-royal tours to Colombia and Nigeria, and Meghan started a new business with the soft launch of her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard, when she sent limited-edition strawberry jam to her friends.
