The King has wished Prince Harry a happy 40th birthday – with a cake emoji – on social media, as the Duke of Sussex plans to celebrate with a low-key family party in Montecito

The King and Queen have taken to social media to congratulate Prince Harry on his birthday. They posted a message this morning in honor of the Duke of Sussex’s 40th birthday.

The official X account, formerly Twitter, of the royal family posted birthday wishes for Prince Harry at around 8:30am UK time.

The 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, dressed in a sharp grey suit and white shirt. The photo was taken in 2018, during a visit with the Duchess of Sussex to Dublin’s ‘Digital Docklands’ when the Prince was still a working royal.

Harry will celebrate his birthday privately in Montecito, where he now lives with his wife Meghan, 43, and their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.

There was no indication whether King Charles, 75, and Prince William, 42, would publicly congratulate their birthdays today. But the king and queen clearly wanted to mark the occasion early, just hours before the West Coast of America wakes up.

The official X account, formerly the royal family’s Twitter account, posted a birthday greeting for the Duke of Sussex this morning, as Harry prepares to celebrate his 40th birthday across the pond

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have yet to comment on Harry’s big day.

Prince Harry will reportedly then go on holiday with his “best friends” to celebrate his birthday, while Meghan will stay home with their two children.

Harry and Meghan have travelled to Nigeria and Colombia in recent months. The couple also returned to the UK to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

But the Duke’s 40th birthday comes after a tumultuous period for the royal family, with explosive interviews, TV shows and a book that seemingly distanced Harry from his family.

Prince Harry, Prince William and King Charles photographed together in July 2018; while the king wished his son a happy birthday this morning, it is unclear whether Prince William will make a public gesture to his estranged sibling

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, in The Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London on July 1, 2021

Harry did not see his father last month when he was briefly in the UK for the memorial service for his uncle, Lord Fellowes. According to US celebrity magazine People, they “no longer speak”.

Prince William also attended the service, but the brothers did not speak to each other. Today’s milestone stands in stark contrast to Harry’s 30th birthday, when he celebrated with his brother at a black-tie party at Clarence House, their father’s London home.

Despite the family tensions overshadowing Harry’s birthday, a source claims Charles will contact his son as soon as he wakes up because there is “still a lot of love” between a father and son.

The monarch is expected to contact his youngest son via Skype on Sunday afternoon UK time so that the two can speak once the Duke of Sussex wakes up in California.

But there will be “no phone call” between Prince William and Prince Harry as the brothers “don’t even speak to each other,” another source claimed.

The Duke of Sussex can expect to hear from his father early on his 40th birthday, a royal insider told the Sunday Expresswho claimed there is “still a lot of love” in the family.

The source added: “They prefer to communicate via Skype, because they can see each other. In addition, everything is set up by the staff so that everything runs smoothly.’

But while Harry and William typically celebrate major milestones together, a source told the Mirror that ‘there will be no transatlantic conversation between the two on Harry’s big day.’

The insider added: ‘What a difference the years have made. When Harry turned 30, it seemed like nothing could come between him and his brother.

‘Together they would become the new face of the royals and give The Firm a much-needed modernisation.

“But now William and Harry don’t even speak anymore. They used to celebrate important milestones together, but there will be no transatlantic conversation between the two on Harry’s big day.”

The rift between the brothers widened after Prince Harry published his memoirs, Spare, in January, with the Prince of Wales reportedly suggesting there was “zero chance” of Harry being welcomed back into the Firm.

In the book, Harry took aim at several members of the royal family, accusing William of assaulting him in a row over Meghan and claiming his brother and their father confronted him after Prince Philip’s funeral “looking for a fight.”

Harry also claimed that William and Kate urged him to wear his infamous Nazi costume.

Prince Harry and Prince William sit together on the steps of Highgrove House, dressed in army uniforms, in July 1986

Sources close to Harry, who turns 40 next week, told the Daily Telegraph that he has 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-enemy,” Queen Consort Camilla as an “evil stepmother,” and Charles as an emotionally handicapped and ineffectual “old man.”

William and Harry have not spoken in months and are currently not in contact.

Earlier this month, it was reported that William and Harry both attended the funeral of their uncle Robert Fellowes, but witnesses said they did not see the brothers speak.

They were reportedly seated separately at the back of St Mary’s Church in Snettisham, where the service for the Eton-educated Lord Fellowes was taking place.

Sources reported that the couple arrived “very discreetly” and you wouldn’t even have noticed 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 that the Duke would still expect an apology from his brother if he represented the family in any way.

And last week it was reported that Prince Harry would not return to royal duties unless William apologized. However, he would be willing to “help” the Firm if his father asked him to.

Sources close to the Duke of Sussex have indicated that he is happy with his decision to give up his royal role, the Mirror reports.

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

However, they claim he would be open to a temporary role within the royal family if his father asked him to help out.

This came after the Mail on Sunday revealed last week that the Duke had turned his back on his “Hollywood publicists” and was instead texting former confidants “from his old life” about how he could arrange a return from exile in the US.

However, sources stress that Harry and Meghan, who have lived in California with their two children for the past four years, are not seeking a permanent return.

After celebrating his 40th birthday at the couple’s £11million Montecito home, Prince Harry will ‘enjoying a weekend away with some of his closest friends,’ according to a report from The sun.

Meghan is expected to stay in California with Archie and Lilibet.

Shortly before his 40th birthday, Prince Harry told the BBC: ‘I was nervous about my 30th birthday, but I’m looking forward to my 40th birthday.’

He added: ‘Regardless of age, my mission is to continue to serve the world and do good.’

And speaking about the importance of children, he said: ‘Becoming a father to two incredibly sweet and funny children has given me a fresh perspective on life and sharpened my focus in all my work.

“Being a father is one of life’s greatest joys. It has only made me more motivated and committed to making the world a better place.”