Prince Harry has turned 40 today – but as he quietly celebrates with his wife and children in California, all eyes will be on whether King Charles or Prince William wish him a public happy birthday.
The Duke of Sussex 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.
It is understood Prince Harry will then 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.
There has been no indication whether King Charles, 75, and Prince William, 42, will release public happy birthday messages today, with neither Buckingham Palace nor Kensington Palace commenting so far.
Harry did not see his father last month while he was briefly in the UK for the memorial service for his uncle, Lord Fellowes, and they ‘are no longer speaking’, according to US celebrity magazine People.
Prince William also attended the service, but the brothers did not speak to each other. Today’s milestone comes in stark contrast to Harry’s 30th, when he partied with his brother at a black tie bash at Clarence House, their father’s London home.
Despite family tensions overshadowing Harry’s birthday, a source has claimed that Charles will reach out to his son as soon as he wakes up as there is ‘still a lot of love’ between a father and son.
The monarch is expected to call his youngest son on Skype on Sunday afternoon UK time, so the pair can speak as soon as the Duke of Sussex wakes up in California.
But there will be ‘no call’ between Prince William and Prince Harry as the brothers ‘don’t even speak’, another source has claimed.
The Duke of Sussex should expect to hear from his father early in the day on his 40th birthday, a royal insider told the Sunday Express, who claimed there is ‘still a lot of love’ in the family.
The source added: ‘They tend to use Skype when they communicate because they can see each other and it’s all set up by staff so it runs smoothly.’
But although Harry and William have typically celebrated major milestones together, a source told the Mirror that there ‘will be no transatlantic call between to the two on Harry’s big day.’
The insider added: ‘What a difference the years have brought. When Harry turned 30, it looked like nothing could come between him and his brother.
‘Together, they were set to become the new face of the royals, injecting a much needed modernisation of The Firm.
‘But now, William and Harry don’t even speak. Before, they always celebrated major milestones together but there will be no transatlantic call between to the two on Harry’s big day.’
A rift deepened between the brothers after Prince Harry published his memoir, Spare, last January, with the Prince of Wales reportedly suggesting there is ‘zero chance’ Harry could be welcomed back to the Firm.
In the book, Harry took aim at some members of the Royal Family. He accused William of assaulting him in a row over Meghan and claimed his brother and their father confronted him after Prince Philip’s funeral ‘looking for a fight’.
Harry also alleged that William and Kate urged him to wear his infamous Nazi fancy dress outfit.
He cast his brother as his ‘arch-nemesis’; Queen Consort Camilla as a ‘wicked stepmother’ and Charles as an emotionally-stunted and ineffectual ‘old man’.
William and Harry have not spoken for months and currently have no contact.
It was revealed earlier this month that both William and Harry attended the funeral of their uncle Robert Fellowes, but witnesses said they didn’t see the brothers speak.
They reportedly sat apart at the back of St Mary’s Church in Snettisham where the service for Eton-educated Lord Fellowes took place.
Sources spoke of how the pair arrived ‘very discreetly’ and that you wouldn’t have known they were there.
According to The Mirror, friends of Harry have said he is determined to improve his relationship with his father, especially given his health problems.
They claimed the Duke would still look for an apology from his brother if he were to represent the family in any way.
And reports claimed last week that Prince Harry will not return to royal duties unless William apologises, but would be willing to ‘help out’ the Firm if asked by his father.
Sources close to The Duke of Sussex have suggested he is happy with his decision to quit his royal role, the Mirror reported.
But they claim he would be open to a temporary role within the Royal Family if asked to help out by his father.
It comes after the Mail on Sunday revealed last week that the Duke had turned away from his ‘Hollywood publicists’ and had resorted to texting former confidantes ‘from his old life’ on how to mastermind a return from exile in the US.
However, sources stressed Harry and Meghan, who have spent the past four years living in California with their two children, are not seeking a permanent return.
After celebrating his 40th at the couple’s £11million home in Montecito, Prince Harry will ‘enjoy a weekend getaway with a few of his closest mates’, according to a report by The Sun.
Meghan is expected to stay in California with Archie and Lilibet.
Ahead of his 40th, Prince Harry told the BBC: ‘I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40.’
He added: ‘Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world’.
And speaking about the importance of children, he said: ‘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.’