The Royal Family‘s social media posts wishing Prince Harry a happy 40th birthday show ‘no evidence of defrosting their relationship’, a royal expert has claimed.
The official X account for the Royal Family posted birthday wishes to Harry at around 8.30am this morning, writing: ‘Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!’
The post was followed by a separate statement from the Prince and Princess of Wales who shared a similar message to the Duke.
Despite hopes that the public messages signal a step towards a reconciliation between the feuding family, royal expert Tom Bower has claimed the posts are merely about keeping up public appearances.
Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Bower said: ‘William and Kate’s surprise birthday wishes to Harry do not signal a step towards reconciliation. Rather it shows that the Waleses don’t want to be criticised as churlish.
‘Being diplomatic costs them nothing and avoids criticism. The King understandably has congratulated his son but there’s no evidence of defrosting their relationship.’
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Prince Harry, Prince William and King Charles photographed together in July 2018
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The official X account of the Royal Family posted a birthday greeting to the Duke of Sussex this morning
Prince Harry also received a surprise birthday message from Prince William and Kate just a few hours after the King and Queen posted the message
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Mr Bower added: ‘Noticeably when Harry attended the funeral of his uncle Robert Fellowes two weeks ago, he did not see his father. Nothing has changed.
‘Harry refuses to apologise for the awful things he has said and written about his family and his family cannot see why Harry expects them to say sorry.’
However, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams claimed the surprise greeting could be seen as an olive branch which could help to smooth relations between the family.
He told MailOnline: ‘What hopefully might subsequently happen are private approaches which we don’t hear about and which the Sussexes don’t leak to the media. Then, some real progress in repairing relations can be made.’
Mr Fitzwilliams added: The release of Spare, Harry’s explosive best-selling memoir, in paperback next month will not be popular with the royal family. However it won’t be promoted by Harry as it originally was and hasn’t been enlarged or updated. That, in itself, may be an olive branch.
‘A gesture on security, if he were to lose the case in the Court of Appeal to ensure he and his family had automatic security when they visited Britain, would also undoubtedly help.
‘Hopefully, a feeling of goodwill will be engendered by these unexpected public good wishes and will be taken forward. So something constructive, following this acknowledgement of his milestone birthday by the royal family, may follow in the weeks and months to come.’
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Prince Harry and Prince William at the unveiling of their mother’s statue in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace on what would have been her 60th birthday
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Prince Harry with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children Archie and Lilibet in 2021
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Royal expert Tom Bower (pictured) has claimed the birthday posts are merely about keeping up public appearances
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Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams (pictured) claimed the birthday posts could be seen as an olive branch which could help to smooth relations between the feuding family
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While tensions between William and Harry remain, it was uncertain whether Prince William would make a public gesture to acknowledge his brother’s milestone birthday.
Harry is set to mark the birthday milestone privately in Montecito, where he now lives with his wife Meghan, 43, and their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.
There had been no indication whether King Charles, 75, and Prince William, 42, would release public happy birthday messages today – but the King and Queen, and now Prince William and Kate Middleton, clearly wanted to mark the occasion early, hours before the west coast of America wakes up.
To continue his big birthday celebrations, it is understood Prince Harry will head off on a holiday with his ‘closest mates’ to celebrate his birthday, while Meghan stays at home with their two children.
Harry and Meghan have travelled to Nigeria and Colombia in recent months, while the couple also returned to the UK to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
But the Duke’s 40th follows a tumultuous period for the Royal Family, with explosive interviews, TV programmes and a book seemingly drifting Harry further away from his family.