Buckingham Palace Responds to Prince Harry Photo Cropping Controversy
This past weekend, the royal family shared a birthday tribute to mark Prince Harry‘s milestone 40th birthday. Countless fans took to the comments to include their well wishes, and even Prince William chimed in to celebrate his brother. But then there were a few skeptical fans who noticed something odd about the selected photo.
In case you missed it, the royals shared a close-up pic of Harry from 2018, when he and his wife, Meghan Markle, visited the Dogpatch startup hub in Dublin during a trip to Ireland. They wrote, “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” Although the featured image is a solo shot of the Duchess of Sussex, fans quickly discovered that the royal was actually sitting beside his wife in the wider frame. And now, Buckingham Palace is speaking out in response to these claims.
Jimmy Rainford – Pool/Getty Images
Per The Independent, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace “confirmed the image used was not altered and was used in the format it was received.” This definitely tracks, because a quick search on Getty Images shows that both versions of the image (one with Meghan and one without) were uploaded by photographer Jimmy Rainford on July 11, 2018. So rather, the royals simply chose a variation that focuses on just Prince Harry.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Shortly before celebrating his birthday, Prince Harry opened up about embarking on a new chapter. He said a statement, “I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40. Becoming a father of two incredibly kind and funny kids has given me a fresh perspective on life, as well as sharpening my focus in all my work. Being a dad is one of life’s greatest joys and has only made me more driven and more committed to making this world a better place.”
The prince reportedly celebrated the big day with family and close friends at a private party in Montecito, California. And in addition to all the well wishes, the royal was gifted with a hefty payout from his late grandmother’s trust fund.
Enjoy the big 4-0, Harry.
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Yes, Prince William Publicly Wished His Brother a Happy Birthday, But That’s Not What Caught My Eye
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Buckingham Palace did not crop Meghan Markle out of Prince Harry’s 40th birthday tribute, Access Hollywood has learned. On Sunday, Sept. 15, the Duke of Sussex celebrated his milestone birthday and, in a surprise gesture, received well wishes from his brother, Prince William, sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, and father, King Charles, despite the royal family rift. King Charles and Queen Camilla’s official Instagram page named “The Royal Family” posted a photo of Harry alongside the caption, “Wishing the Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” The same photo was then reposted by the Prince and Princess of Wales on their official social media accounts with their own birthday message. The image was from a 2018 trip to Ireland, where Harry and Meghan visited co-working space DogPatch Labs. A look at the original shot reveals that Meghan was smiling next to Harry at the table. However, she and the couple’s companions aren’t visible in the royal family’s birthday tribute for the Duke, as the posted image focused only on Harry. But the palace has since clarified that the image was shared in its original form without anyone cropped out. Photo agencies do have two versions of the image available – one with Meghan and another that features Harry by himself. The posts by Prince William and King Charles are reportedly the first time the royal family has publicly acknowledged Harry’s birthday since 2021 – the year he officially broke away from the monarchy.
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Prince Harry Set To Return To The UK After His 40th Birthday, But ‘Without’ Wife Meghan Markle
Prince Harry is set to return to the UK for the WellChild Awards, where he has been a patron for 16 years.
However, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is not expected to accompany her husband, further increasing the number of trips the duke has made to the UK without his wife.
Prince Harry’s upcoming visit to his home country comes after he turned 40, and he received birthday wishes from the royal family, including a hefty inheritance.
Prince Harry Set To Attend WellChild Awards In UK Without His Wife
Harry is reportedly set to visit the UK later this month to attend a charity event – the annual WellChild Awards, where he continues to serve as the charity’s patron for 16 years.
The WellChild Awards, a significant event in Harry’s calendar when he was a working royal, celebrate the courage of children with serious health conditions and recognize the dedication of their families and caregivers.
Despite stepping back from the majority of his royal patronages at the request of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, WellChild, is among the few UK-based charities Harry remained involved with after stepping down from royal duties and relocating to the US.
However, there has been no indication that Meghan will accompany Harry to the event. Some reports suggest the Duchess of Sussex has no intention of returning to the UK, even skipping a chance to step outside the airport when they last visited the country earlier this year during a stopover before their trip to Nigeria.
The Duchess Will Be Happy Never Setting Foot In The UK Ever Again, Expert Claims
Christopher Andersen, author of “The King,” told Fox News Digital that Meghan “would be perfectly happy never setting foot in the UK again.”
“Harry and Meghan have a fairly idyllic life in California, regardless of what their critics like to imagine,” Andersen explained. “Meghan probably came to terms with their situation… with the royal family much earlier than Harry has – if indeed he has.”
“Meghan is more of a realist and realized early on that the monarchy and those who control it are intractable. That goes for the king and the rest of the royal family,” Andersen added.
Prince Harry Says He’s Honored To Attend This Year’s WellChild Event
In its announcement, WellChild acknowledged the “invaluable help” Harry has provided over the years in raising both awareness and funds.
Having attended the WellChild Awards twelve times previously, Harry will once again meet with the winners and their families during a pre-ceremony reception. The duke will also be present at the main event, where he is set to present the Inspirational Child Award (ages 4-6) and deliver a speech.
In a statement, Harry expressed his honor, saying: “I am once again honored to attend this year’s WellChild Awards celebrating the remarkable courage and achievements of children living with complex medical needs.”
He continued, “These incredible young people, along with the dedicated caregivers, nurses, and professionals who tirelessly support them, inspire us all. It is a true privilege to recognize such extraordinary individuals.”
The Royal Family Wished The Duke A Happy Birthday When He Turned 40
Harry’s upcoming visit to the UK to attend the WellChild Awards comes after birthday wishes from Buckingham and Kensington Palace shared on social media to mark his 40th birthday.
On the duke’s 40th birthday, the Prince and Princess of Wales joined King Charles and Queen Camilla in publicly acknowledging Harry’s milestone age, a gesture that hadn’t occurred since 2021. This indicates a possible thaw in relations.
The Royal Family’s official X account posted a birthday message for Harry at around 8:30 a.m. UK time, writing, “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” along with a birthday cake emoji.
Later in the morning, William and Kate sent a similar greeting from their joint account. Given the ongoing tensions between the two brothers, it was uncertain if William would publicly acknowledge Harry’s birthday, making the greeting a potential olive branch.
Prince Harry Reportedly Seeks Reconciliation With King Charles Amid Ongoing Tensions And UK Visit
Sources close to the Sussexes have recently indicated that Harry is eager to reconcile with his father. The Daily Mail reported that the duke also hopes to visit the UK more frequently, but his ongoing legal battle with the Home Office over the withdrawal of his security detail remains a key issue.
Additionally, trust between Harry and his family has been strained, especially after the publication of his revealing memoir “Spare” and the docu-series “Harry & Meghan.”
With Charles currently spending much of his time in Scotland, where he is receiving ongoing cancer treatment and making regular trips to London, there may be a rare chance for a private meeting between him and Harry.
However, the king has a significant event scheduled in Scotland just two days before Harry’s appearance at the WellChild Awards. Both he and Camilla are set to attend the Scottish Parliament’s 25th anniversary celebrations, which suggests the king might remain in Scotland during Harry’s visit to the UK.