Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, celebrated his 39th birthday on Friday amidst a noticeable schism between him and the rest of the royal family.
The public snub from the palace, which failed to publicly acknowledge his birthday, laid bare the tensions within the family.
While athletes at the Invictus Games in Germany showered Harry with gifts and serenaded him with renditions of “Happy Birthday,” the monarchy’s official social media accounts remained conspicuously silent.
Throughout the day, the palace’s social media platforms were abuzz with posts about King Charles, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, completely omitting any mention of Prince Harry.
Instead, the royal family shared a heartwarming post about Prince William and Catherine’s recent outing in Hereford, diverting attention from Harry on his special day.
On Thursday, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Madley Primary School’s Forest School and met with a local mental health charity.
Photos from their visit were shared on the royal family’s official social media handles on Friday, September 15th, coinciding with Harry’s birthday.
Meanwhile, Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, were celebrating his birthday in Germany.
The absence of public birthday tributes from senior members of the royal family for Prince Harry did not go unnoticed.
In previous years, Prince William, Catherine, and other royals have used social media to convey their birthday wishes.
However, this year, they chose to refrain from doing so due to unresolved tensions between them and the Sussexes.
Changes in protocol occurred in September following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
With King Charles assuming the throne, social media posts have been limited to highlighting the working members of the royal family.
PR specialist Ciaran Elsby attributes the snub to the ongoing tensions between Harry and his family.
Ciaran Elsby, director of media PR Global, noted the absence of public birthday tributes from the royal family for Prince Harry and commented on this matter to the Mirror.
He suggested that while it is possible they privately extended their greetings to Harry, the public snub cannot be ignored.
This raises intriguing questions about the dynamics of their relationship.
According to Ciaran, the lack of a birthday tribute also suggests a certain level of public distancing.
In an era where even private matters often play out in the public eye, the absence of a public birthday message carries significant weight.
It adds to the ongoing narrative of strained relationships and unresolved tensions within the family.
Furthermore, the Sussexes’ use of the Invictus Games has been viewed by some as primarily a PR stunt.
Critics claim that Meghan Markle, in particular, uses the event as an opportunity to promote herself and her own interests.
Additionally, there are allegations that the couple expected the royal family to bend to their will.
This perspective draws comparisons to previous incidents, such as the New York car chase hoax, where the Sussexes sought attention and validation from the royals.
The couple’s expectation of a shout-out, promotion, or even a visit from the royal family after years of alleged lies, abuse, and incitement has been met with disappointment.
However, it is worth noting that these claims remain contentious and are subject to differing opinions.
As Prince Harry celebrated his 39th birthday, the absence of public recognition from the royal family speaks volumes.
It underscores the ongoing tensions and strained relationships within the monarchy.
While private greetings may have been exchanged behind closed doors, the public snub reinforces the narrative of a family divided.