Harry Just Turned 38 While in Mourning - He Spent It Privately Only with Meghan While William ‘Didn’t Forget’

• Queen Elizabeth gave a sweet birthday message to Prince Harry on his 37th birthday in 2021 when she was still alive.

• Harry is celebrating his birthday a little bit differently this year because he is mourning the death of his grandma.

• There’s a new development in the brothers' relationship as William talked about Harry openly in public, noting that he did not forget his brother's birthday.

Birthdays are significant milestones that should be celebrated with joy and laughter every year. However, it was not the case for Prince Harry.

On September 15, 2022, the Duke of Sussex clocked 38, and ordinarily, it would have been a memorable day.

But sadly, Harry had no plans to commemorate the big day, as it coincided with the mourning period set by King Charles III following the death of Queen Elizabeth on September 8, 2022.

Nevertheless, despite focusing on the royal mourning period, Harry reportedly still marked the milestone privately with his wife, Meghan Markle.

According to reports, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were absent from Prince William's Adelaide Cottage home in Windsor. Till now, details of what Harry and Meghan did remain unknown.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Sussex's reported private celebration with his wife is not the only reason Harry's 38th birthday has left many talking.

Reports have revealed that Harry's special day did not escape William's mind, even though they were not living together in the same house while mourning their grandmother. Indeed, brothers will always be brothers.

William Didn't Forget Harry's 38th Birthday

Naturally, siblings remember one another's birthdays, considering the relationship they share, and William has proven it.

Despite everything that has happened between the Prince of Wales and his brother, the former made it known that he did not forget the Duke of Sussex's 38th birthday. On September 15, at Sandringham, William spoke to a well-wisher regarding Harry's birthday. He said:

"It is his birthday today - you're absolutely right, it is."

Afterward, William was asked if he had forgotten about the special day, and in his response, he noted that he had not.

The Prince of Wales' response was not surprising to many, seeing that he and Harry have seemingly put their differences aside since the death of Queen Elizabeth. They have shown unity while mourning the late monarch, appearing in public together on different occasions.

It was an emotional moment, especially for Harry, who was seen wiping his eyes while walking behind the coffin before it was placed in Westminster Hall.

The brothers were first seen together in public with their wives during a walkaround at Windsor castle on September 10, 2022.

William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan were dressed in black while greeting the mourning crowd and checking out the flowers and memorabilia left for the late Queen. Reports would later reveal that the Prince of Wales invited his brother and Meghan to join in the walk around.

After a long period of being estranged, it was delightful to see the Prince and Princess Wales and Sussexes together again. A palace insider described it as "an extraordinary historical moment," adding that perhaps, it could be the start of wounds healing on both sides.

Meanwhile, William is not the only Royal Family member who has tried to make peace with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

During King Charles III's first public speech, he shocked the world by mentioning his son and daughter-in-law's names. In his words (via Today):

"I also want to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas."

King Charles and the Sussexes had been estranged following the latter's decision to step down from their duties as senior members of the Royal Family.

So, when the king mentioned their names, many considered it an olive branch, including the editor-in-chief of People Magazine, Wendy Naugle. According to Naugle, it was a "big step forward that we could be seeing in that relationship."

Although Harry's relationship with other Royal Family members was strained before the Queen's demise, the Duke of Sussex remained close with the late monarch. In fact, despite her age, Queen Elizabeth remembered her grandson's last birthday when she was still alive.

Queen Elizabeth's Last Birthday Message to Harry

Unfortunately, Queen Elizabeth could not witness Harry's 38th birthday and send a heartfelt message as she had done in the past.

Her last birthday message to her grandson was in 2021 when the Duke of Sussex turned 37. Her Majesty marked the occasion with a social media post, wishing Harry a happy birthday.

Taking to Twitter, Queen Elizabeth shared four pictures that showed her grandson wearing huge smiles at different moments in his life. One of the snaps showed the Duke of Sussex standing next to his wife in a crowd, as they smiled heartily and appeared to be cheering. The photos were accompanied by a caption that read:

"Wishing The Duke of Sussex a happy birthday today!🎈"

Unknown to Queen Elizabeth, the birthday message would be her last to Harry, as she died a few days before his 38th birthday. Following the late monarch's demise, the Duke of Sussex paid tribute to his grandma on the Archewell Foundation website. In his touching words, he wrote:

"Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings—from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren."

Harry also confessed that all the time he spent with the Queen meant a lot, adding that she would be greatly missed by not only him but other members of the Royal Family and the world. Since Queen Elizabeth's demise, activities leading up to her funeral, according to Royal tradition, have been ongoing.

The late monarch's lying in state began on September 14, 2022, and royal family members, including Prince Harry, were present to witness the moving procession for Her Majesty.

It was an emotional moment, especially for Harry, who was seen wiping his eyes while walking behind the coffin before it was placed in Westminster Hall. The Queen's lying in state will continue until her funeral on Monday, September 19, 2022.