The King and Queen enjoyed their usual Sunday morning routine in Balmoral this morning after wishing Prince Harry a happy 40th birthday on social media – heading to church at nearby Craithie Kirk.
Charles, 75, and Camilla, 77, had joined the Prince and Princess of Wales in offering birthday greetings to Prince Harry online this morning.
The official X, formerly Twitter, account for the Royal Family, posted the birthday wishes to Prince Harry around 8:30am UK time, with William and Kate’s official account sharing a similar greeting mid morning.
And then, it was very much a normal Sunday for the King and Queen, as they were pictured leaving the church the royals have been attending for decades while staying at the Scottish royal residence.
The King, looking in good spirits, wore a smart Tweed blazer and waistcoat with a paisley pocket scarf, while Queen Camilla cut an elegant figure in traditional country attire, donning a blue blazer with a tartan trim and a green pillbox hat with a feather adornment.
The King and Queen pictured leaving a Sunday church service this morning in the town of Craithie Kirk near Balmoral; earlier today Charles wished his youngest son a happy birthday on social media
The official X, formerly Twitter account of the Royal Family, posted a birthday greeting to the Duke of Sussex this morning, as Harry prepares to celebrate his 40th birthday across the Pond
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
Charles and Camilla looked in good spirits following a visit to the church they’ve been attending for decades as they were driven back to Balmoral on Sunday
While tensions between William and Harry remain, it was uncertain whether the royals would make a public gesture to acknowledge the Duke of Sussex’s milestone birthday.
However, William and Kate’s surprise greeting could be seen as an olive branch that could help to smooth relations between the warring siblings.
Earlier, the King and Queen’s simple message, marked with a birthday cake emoji read: ‘Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!’
The post shared a photo of a beaming Prince Harry, wearing a smart grey suit and white shirt. The image was taken in 2018, during a visit with the Duchess of Sussex to the ‘Digital Docklands’ in Dublin when the Prince was still a working royal.
The @KensingtonRoyal account followed up with a very similar message, with the Prince and Princess of Wales writing: ‘Wishing a happy 40th birthday to the Duke of Sussex!’
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 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.
Prince Harry, Prince William and King Charles photographed together in July 2018; while the King has wished his son a happy birthday this morning, it’s unclear whether Prince William will make a public gesture to his estranged sibling
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.
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
Prince William and Prince Harry arrive at the unveiling of a statue of their mother, Princess Diana at The Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace, London on July 1, 2021
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.
Prince Harry and Prince William sit together on the steps of Highgrove House wearing army uniforms in July 1986
Sources close to Harry, who turns 40 next week, told the Daily Telegraph that he is settled in California with Meghan, 43, and their children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three. Prince Harry and Meghan pictured with their children in December 2021
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Invictus Games in September 2023
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.
Prince Harry attends The Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8
Prince Harry and Meghan seen during their visit to Colombia on August 15
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.’