Buckingham Palace has denied claims that a photograph shared by King Charles and Prince William to celebrate the Duke of Sussex’s 40th birthday was cropped to exclude Meghan Markle. The image, originally taken during Harry and Meghan’s first official overseas trip to Dublin in 2018, shows a smiling Harry. It was shared by the royal family, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, on Sunday to mark his milestone birthday.
Captioned, “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today,” the photo sparked online speculation after royal observers pointed out that the original image, captured when Harry was still an active member of the royal family, included Meghan. This led to rumors that the Duchess of Sussex was intentionally removed. However, it has since been clarified that both the cropped and full versions of the picture were uploaded by the Press Association to Getty Images on the same day in 2018.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace confirmed that no alterations were made to the image and that it was shared in its original format, as received.
Relations between the royal family and Harry and Meghan have deteriorated since the couple stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and participated in several revealing interviews. Tensions were further heightened by the publication of Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare, in which he made several controversial claims, including an allegation that Prince William physically attacked him during a dispute about the treatment of Meghan.
While some view the decision to share the image as a gesture of reconciliation toward Harry, others believe it follows a royal tradition set by the late Queen Elizabeth II. According to this precedent, the birthdays of non-working royals are acknowledged on official channels, particularly for milestone years ending in zero.
Fans, however, were thrilled by the post, as it marks the first time the royal family has publicly recognized Harry’s birthday since 2021.
