Prince Harry to jet off on ‘lads holiday’ to celebrate 40th birthday
Prince Harry is reportedly jetting off for a ‘lads holiday’ to celebrate his 40th birthday with his closest friends while wife Meghan stays at home.
The Duke of Sussex is looking to enjoy a ‘weekend getaway with his closest mates’ according to the Sun.
Meanwhile, Meghan is expected to stay in California with the couple’s two children, five-year-old Archie and three-year-old Lilibet, who the prince previously called the ‘two best gifts’ he ever received.
Notably absent from the invite is Prince William, who ten years ago celebrated his brother’s 30th birthday with wife Kate but now barely speaks to Harry as the rift between them shows no signs of healing.
Meanwhile, friends of the Prince recently said he has grown increasingly unhappy with his life in the US.
Speaking to The Times last month, a friend claimed they are among the few who get ‘the odd WhatsApp from him’, adding: ‘He’s an angry boy. Things haven’t turned out how he wanted.’
‘I think he misses being over here [in Britain] desperately and wants to be admired more. Anyone who knows him feels he’d rather be top of the pops here with everyone loving him, as they do with William and Kate.’
Ahead of the milestone this Sunday, the Duke of Sussex emailed People magazine to reveal the joy he receives from his son and daughter.
Harry wrote in the email: ‘The best gift I’ve ever been given is, without a doubt, my kids. I enjoy watching them grow every single day, and I love being their dad.’
People also reported that Harry was now ‘focused on enjoying life’ with his family ‘after years of self-reflection’.
Harry is set to kick off his birthday with Meghan, Archie and Lilibet in a low-key celebration at their California mansion in Montecito.
People said this would be ‘followed by a gathering with close friends internationally’, while Hello! reported he would head on a ‘weekend getaway’ in the mountains with his closest friends.
The celebrations are likely to mark a stark contrast with those for his 30th, when William threw a black-tie party for his little brother at Clarence House.
Thirty of his best friends toasted Harry with cases of Highgrove champagne sent by his father Charles.
Harry has reportedly been reaching out to old friends after growing increasingly isolated in California, sparking rumours he may be looking to engineer a move back home to the UK.
A friend of Harry’s told the Mail the Duke is no doubt missing his former life in the UK and going to the pub with friends, as rumours swirl that he may not even receive an invite to his brother William’s coronation.
‘He has ended up isolated from his family and most of his old mates, in an environment where your friendships are not like the ones you forged as a young man,’ they said. ‘He used to love a night out in the pub and hanging out in the country with friends.’
Harry last visited the UK in May to attend a service at St Paul’s Cathedral marking ten years of the Invictus Games, the sports event he helped to launch for injured soldiers.
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