Prince Harry expresses excitement at turning 40 ahead of birthday celebrations
Prince Harry is said to be excited to start a fresh decade on Sunday as he readies to turn the big 4-0 in California - where he moved with his family after the Sussexes quit their duties as senior royals back in 2020.
Friday 13 September 2024 20:33, UK
Prince Harry will mark his 40th with friends and family in America, before having a birthday getaway with his closest mates, Sky News understands.
The Duke of Sussex, who marks the big birthday milestone on Sunday, will celebrate privately in Montecito, California, where he now lives with his wife Meghan and children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.
It is understood he also has plans for a weekend break with a few of his closest friends.
Rather than dreading the big 4-0, Harry is said to be looking ahead with excitement as he enters a new decade, and is eager to continue pursuing the work he is most passionate about, with his children giving him a fresh perspective on life.
Prince Harry expressed excitement at turning 40 in a statement to the BBC and said: "Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world."
He also described his joy as the father of "two incredibly kind and funny kids", saying it has "sharpened my focus in all my work".
"Bring on the next decade," the statement ends.
With overseas trips to Nigeria and Colombia in recent months, and a visit to the UK to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, Harry and Meghan have been working hard to publicly reinforce their commitment to the key cornerstones of their philanthropic work.
It comes after a tumultuous period for the royal family, with the Sussexes leaving the UK in 2020 to start a new life in California, and with television programmes, interviews and a book further fuelling perceptions of an ongoing rift.
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There's been no indication whether his family in the UK will do anything publicly to mark Harry's 40th, with both Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace not making any comment.