The royal family has dismissed rumors that they edited Meghan Markle out of a photo shared on social media for Prince Harry’s 40th birthday.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace assured the Independent on Monday that the 2018 picture posted on the family’s official accounts was unaltered and was used in the form received from a photo agency.
The Duke of Sussex was photographed from various angles, with and without his wife, and both the original and cropped versions were uploaded to Getty Images at that time.
Rumors of a possible snub circulated on Monday when observers noticed that Meghan Markle, 43, seemed to have been removed from a photo of her husband shared by Buckingham Palace for the duke’s significant birthday on Sunday.
“Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” wrote the official X account of the royal family, which is run by Harry’s dad King Charles III’s office.
The post was later reposted by Prince William and Kate Middleton on their official account, Prince and Princess of Wales X, with the message, “Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex!”
The photo featured Harry smiling alone during a visit to Dogpatch Labs in Dublin in 2018.
One picture taken at the time showed Markle seated beside the prince at a table with others, while other shots only included Harry in the frame.
The shout-out held special significance as it marked the first time in three years that the royal family publicly acknowledged Harry’s birthday.
This action deviated from the protocol established by Charles, 75, following Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in September 2022, where only working members of the royal family were to be highlighted on social media.
Harry and Markle stepped back from their royal roles in January 2020, causing friction with the royal family.
They relocated to California with their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, and openly criticized the royal family in interviews and Harry’s memoir, “Spare.”
Despite reported efforts by Charles to reconcile with Harry after his cancer diagnosis, relations remain strained, notably with William, 42, as evidenced by their lack of interaction at their uncle’s recent funeral.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace assured the Independent on Monday that the 2018 picture posted on the family’s official accounts was unaltered and was used in the form received from a photo agency.
The Duke of Sussex was photographed from various angles, with and without his wife, and both the original and cropped versions were uploaded to Getty Images at that time.
Rumors of a possible snub circulated on Monday when observers noticed that Meghan Markle, 43, seemed to have been removed from a photo of her husband shared by Buckingham Palace for the duke’s significant birthday on Sunday.
“Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” wrote the official X account of the royal family, which is run by Harry’s dad King Charles III’s office.
The post was later reposted by Prince William and Kate Middleton on their official account, Prince and Princess of Wales X, with the message, “Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex!”
The photo featured Harry smiling alone during a visit to Dogpatch Labs in Dublin in 2018.
One picture taken at the time showed Markle seated beside the prince at a table with others, while other shots only included Harry in the frame.
The shout-out held special significance as it marked the first time in three years that the royal family publicly acknowledged Harry’s birthday.
This action deviated from the protocol established by Charles, 75, following Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in September 2022, where only working members of the royal family were to be highlighted on social media.
Harry and Markle stepped back from their royal roles in January 2020, causing friction with the royal family.
They relocated to California with their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, and openly criticized the royal family in interviews and Harry’s memoir, “Spare.”
Despite reported efforts by Charles to reconcile with Harry after his cancer diagnosis, relations remain strained, notably with William, 42, as evidenced by their lack of interaction at their uncle’s recent funeral.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
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