King Charles' former gardener has argued it is time to "bring Prince Harry back into the fold," as the Royal Family issued a statement marking the Duke of Sussex today.
Prince Harry is celebrating his 40th birthday today and the Royal Family and The Prince and Princess of Wales posted a message to the duke, despite having snubbed him last year.
Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex!" William and Kate wrote on their X account, retweeting a post from the Royal Family's official account.
This marks the first time since 2021 that Harry has received public birthday wishes from the royal accounts, a gesture typically reserved for working members of the family.
The Royal Family posted for Harry's birthday
Former royal gardener Jack Stokes has advocated for reconciliation between Prince Harry and the Royal Family. Speaking about the ongoing rift, Stokes said:
"I just feel that now is the time to just go. Do you know what? What is the point? Why? Why are we all hating on Harry?"
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Stokes, who worked at Highgrove for 21 years, suggested it's time to move forward positively: "He had a family rift. Yes. We've all had family rift in our time.
"We've all done and said things to our parents, our siblings that we regret later on."
He emphasised the importance of family connections, noting that Harry's children are growing up without seeing their cousins. Stokes proposed involving Harry in Commonwealth activities, an area he was previously interested in.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, however, offered a contrasting view on the possibility of reconciliation.
Stokes worked at Highgrove for 21 years
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He said: "I wish it was as simple as Jack says, because it simply isn't. Firstly, as the monarchy needs a certain amount of dignity, it's a pivotal part of our unwritten constitution."
Fitzwilliams argued that Harry's return could turn the monarchy into "nothing more than a circus".
He cited the damage caused by the Oprah interview, Netflix documentary, and Harry's memoir Spare.
"They've monetised the rift with the Royal Family, and also they've harmed the Royal Family."
Richard Fitzwilliams felt that Harry could not return
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Prince Harry reflected on reaching his milestone 40th birthday in comments to the BBC.
He said: "I was anxious about 30, I'm excited about 40."
The Duke highlighted how fatherhood has transformed his perspective: "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."
