AceShowbiz - Breaking a years-long silence, the Royal Family has publicly wished Prince Harry a happy 40th birthday. The X social media account shared a message that read, "Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!" The post was accompanied by a photo of Harry taken in 2018.

This is the first time the official Royal Family account has acknowledged Harry's birthday since the death of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022. The Palace had implemented a new protocol limiting social media posts to highlights of working royals.

Sources close to the Palace indicated that Harry is expected to receive phone calls from family members, including his father, King Charles, and sister-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales. However, he is not anticipated to speak with his older brother, Prince William.

Following his birthday celebrations, Harry is scheduled to travel to New York City to advance his philanthropic initiatives during the UN General Assembly High-level Week and Climate Week.

Prince Harry's birthday also marks a significant milestone in his life. He is expected to receive a substantial cash bonus valued at $8.5 million from the late Queen Mother's estate. His wife, Meghan Markle, is rumored to plan a star-studded party in Montecito, California, to commemorate the occasion.

Despite the public birthday greeting, royal fans expressed mixed reactions on X. Some criticized the gesture, believing Harry had betrayed the monarchy, while others expressed their happiness at seeing a sign of reconciliation between Harry and his family.