Prince Harry celebrated a significant milestone last week when as he turned 40. The big day wasn’t just a milestone he celebrated with his family, but also a rather impressive payday, as he received millions from his great-grandmother, the late Queen Mother Elizabeth.

Although Harry’s life seems good and well at the moment as he lives in sunny California with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, the ongoing feud with the Royal Family will surely always be at the back of his mind. As a result, it was a surprise to many that his father, King Charles, and his brother and sister-in-law, Prince William and Kate Middleton, sent him their best wishes for his birthday.

No one knows whether Harry and the royals will ever make amends. There have been reports of the prince looking for a new home in the UK, and other claims have been made about him possibly wanting to return to the royal fold.

No matter what, the sad fact is that his children haven’t thus far developed any relationship with their family in the British monarchy. According to one expert, what’s coming next will be the “saddest” part for Harry, for one main reason.

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, have upset the Royal Family in many ways since leaving royal life behind in 2020. Interviews, books, Netflix shows, and “royal” tours to Nigeria and Colombia have irritated King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton, if reports are to be believed. And though there have been rumors about possible peace talks, it doesn’t seem like amends will be made anytime soon.

Prince Harry celebrates 40th birthday

But while Prince Harry isn’t on speaking terms with his brother, Prince William, and has a bad relationship with his father, King Charles, and stepmother, Queen Camilla, the Royal Family actually broke their silence regarding the estranged prince when the Duke celebrated his 40th birthday just last week.

On Sunday, September 15, Prince Harry turned 40. According to the BBC, he celebrated the big day with family in California, and later went on a vacation with a group of his closest friends.

“I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40,” Harry told BBC ahead of his birthday.

“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,” the prince said in a statement released by his spokesperson.

The Duke added: “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.”

While the prince was given plenty of presents on his big day, one was especially remarkable. It’s been reported that Harry received around $10 million from a family trust fund set up by the late Queen Mother when he was only a child.

Royal family sends birthday wishes to Prince Harry despite ongoing feud

According to several news outlets, Harry’s great-grandmother set up a trust to provide tax-free money to all her great-grandchildren.

“There was a trust fund set up at the time. It was a way in which the Queen Mother could set aside money for when her great-grandchildren were older and a way of passing a slice of her estate down in a tax-efficient way. It was a way in which some of her estate could be ring-fenced for them,” a former palace aid told Express.

Harry’s relationship with the Royal Family is – as mentioned – at rock bottom, but several birthday wishes were posted by the monarchy in honor of the Duke’s birthday even so.

“Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” King Charles’ and Queen Camilla’s social media posts read.

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s social media account also marked Harry’s birthday, as their post read, “Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex!”

Prince Harry and King Charles’ relationship is slightly better than the one he shares with William, while the fact that the Prince and Princess of Wales’ decided that a post to mark Harry’s birthday was a good idea could mean things are heading in the right direction regarding salvaging things.

Birthday post ‘may end bitterness’ between Prince Harry and Prince William, expert says

Writing in the Mirror, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond stated that while Prince Harry and Prince William might not manage to end the feud, the post could end their bitterness for each other.

“I don’t think this almost insignificant gesture signals the start of a reconciliation, but it is an unexpected twist,” Bond wrote.

“Landmark birthdays are often a time for taking a look at your life. This time it seems to be William who has been doing some re-evaluation. My gut feeling is that Catherine was influential in this slight softening of her husband’s implacable stand. In the film she made about the end of her chemotherapy, she told how cancer had given her a new perspective.”