Why the Royal Family posts on Prince Harry’s 40th birthday show: ‘NO evidence of thawing relationship,’ expert claims

Social media posts by the royal family congratulating Prince Harry on his 40th birthday show “no evidence that their relationship has thawed,” a royal expert said.

The royal family’s official X account posted birthday wishes for Harry at around 8:30 a.m. this morning: “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!”

The announcement was followed by a separate statement from the Prince and Princess of Wales, who shared a similar message with the Duke.

Despite hopes that the public messages represent a step towards reconciliation between the feuding family, royal expert Tom Bower claims the messages are only meant to keep up appearances.

Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Bower said: ‘William and Kate’s surprise birthday wishes to Harry do not signal a move towards reconciliation. Rather, it shows that the Waleses do not want to be criticised for being rude.

‘Being diplomatic costs them nothing and avoids criticism. The king has understandably congratulated his son, but there is no evidence that their relationship has thawed.’

Prince Harry, Prince William and King Charles photographed together in July 2018

The Royal Family’s official X account posted a birthday greeting for the Duke of Sussex this morning

Prince Harry also received a surprise birthday message from Prince William and Kate, just hours after the King and Queen posted the message

Mr Bower added: ‘Interestingly, two weeks ago when Harry attended the funeral of his uncle Robert Fellowes, he did not see his father. Nothing has changed.

‘Harry refuses to apologize for the terrible things he has said and written about his family. His family do not understand why Harry expects them to apologize.’

However, according to Richard Fitzwilliams, an expert on royal families, the surprise greeting could be seen as an olive branch that could improve relations within the family.

He told MailOnline: ‘What will hopefully happen next are private approaches that we don’t hear about and that the Sussexes don’t leak to the media. Then real progress can be made in repairing relationships.’

Mr Fitzwilliams added: The release of Spare, Harry’s explosive bestselling memoir, in paperback next month will not be popular with the royal family. However, it will not be promoted by Harry as it originally was and has not been expanded or updated. That in itself may be an olive branch.

‘A gesture of security, should he lose the case at the Court of Appeal, to ensure that he and his family are automatically protected when they visit Britain would no doubt also help.

‘Hopefully a sense of goodwill will be created by these unexpected public well wishes and this will continue. So something constructive, following this recognition of his milestone birthday by the Royal Family, can follow in the coming weeks and months.’

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 Harry with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children Archie and Lilibet in 2021

Royal expert Tom Bower (pictured) claims the birthday messages are just to keep up appearances.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams (pictured) claimed the birthday messages could be seen as an olive branch that could improve relations between the feuding family.

As tensions between William and Harry continue, it was uncertain whether Prince William would make a public gesture in honor of his brother’s milestone birthday.

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 wish their birthdays today. But the king and queen, and now Prince William and Kate Middleton, clearly wanted to mark the occasion early, just hours before the West Coast of America wakes up.

To celebrate his birthday in style, Prince Harry is reportedly going on holiday with his “best friends” while Meghan is staying 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.