Prince Harry reveals the ‘best present’ he’s ever received as he prepares to celebrate his 40th birthday at home in California with ‘close friends’
Prince Harry today revealed that his children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are the “best present” he has ever received, as he prepares for his 40th birthday.
In preparation for the milestone this Sunday, the Duke of Sussex sent an email People magazine to reveal the joy he experiences with his son and daughter and his wife Meghan Markle.
Harry wrote in the email: “The best gift I have ever been given is without a doubt my children. I enjoy watching them grow every day and I love being their father.”
People – who are known to be close to the Sussexes – also reported that Harry was now ‘focusing on enjoying life’ with his family ‘after years of self-reflection’.
Additionally, the publication noted his ongoing work through Archewell Foundation projects and the upcoming Netflix documentary Polo, due out in December.
Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet are seen in a Christmas card released on December 23, 2021
Princess Lilibet celebrates her first birthday at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor on June 6, 2022
Harry is celebrating his 40th birthday with Meghan, Archie and Lilibet quietly at their £11million mansion in Montecito, California.
According to People, this would be followed by ‘a gathering with close friends from abroad’, while Hello! reported that he would be taking a ‘weekend away’ in the mountains with his best friends.
Harry will also make a solo trip to New York City later this month to “support a number of his fundraising and philanthropic initiatives,” his team said.
The visit will take place during the High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly from 23 to 27 September and the Climate Week from 22 to 29 September.
According to Hello!, the Duke and Duchess are also planning a third “quasi-royal tour” before the end of the year, during which they are considering a return to Africa.
Harry, Meghan and Archie in Cape Town during their tour of South Africa in September 2019
Harry and Meghan with Archie for his first public photo at Windsor Castle in May 2019
Harry and Meghan received largely positive reception during their first two trips this year: to Nigeria in May and to Colombia last month.
The couple are said to be delighted with the success of the two tours and are now planning another overseas trip later this year.
Likely destinations include Lesotho and Botswana, where Harry’s charity Sentebale operates. The Duke last visited the countries in 2019.
Harry and Meghan stepped down from the working monarchy in 2020 and no longer travel abroad at the request of the British government on official royal visits, when travel costs would normally be covered by the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant.
Harry lost a High Court case against the Home Office in February over a decision to change the level of personal security he receives when he visits the UK. He has now been given the green light to appeal.
