As Prince Harry approaches his 40th birthday, the Duke of Sussex finds himself at a significant crossroads in his life. Once at the heart of the British royal family, Harry’s current situation starkly contrasts with his earlier life as a senior royal. According to former royal butler Paul Burrell, Harry is not feeling entirely happy as he prepares to celebrate this milestone birthday. Burrell, who worked closely with Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, has shared his thoughts on the Duke’s emotional state, suggesting that his estrangement from King Charles, Prince William, and the rest of the royal family is likely weighing heavily on him.
In a recent interview with Closer Magazine, Burrell expressed his belief that Harry’s 40th birthday would be a subdued affair. He predicted that the Duke of Sussex would have a low-key celebration with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, within the confines of their California home. While this setting may be intimate and filled with love from his immediate family, Burrell indicated that Harry is still grappling with his decision to step away from royal duties and the subsequent estrangement from his father and brother. This distance from his family, both physically and emotionally, seems to have cast a shadow over what should be a joyful time.
Burrell, who has long had an insider’s view of the royal family, didn’t mince words when describing Harry’s situation. “Harry will be in exile for his 40th birthday,” Burrell said. “It’ll probably be a low-key celebration inside the gates of their home with celebrity friends. I don’t think he’s happy.” Burrell’s use of the term “exile” underscores the isolation Harry may be feeling, despite the glamorous lifestyle he leads in Montecito, California, surrounded by wealth, fame, and privilege. While he may have the support of his wife and celebrity friends, it seems that the emotional toll of being separated from his birth family is ever-present.
Burrell went on to highlight what he sees as one of the most poignant aspects of Harry’s current life—his loss of the opportunity to maintain a role within the royal family while also enjoying the freedom he sought. “The saddest thing is that he could have had it all,” Burrell remarked, pointing to the fact that Harry once had the option of being both a beloved member of the royal family and a public figure with the ability to shape his own destiny. However, Burrell acknowledged that Harry’s current path is one deeply rooted in his love for Meghan and their children. “While the children are small, there’s no way things will change for Harry because he adores his wife, his family, and that is the path he’s on.”
Burrell’s comments suggest that while Harry may be fully committed to the life he has built with Meghan, it doesn’t mean that he is without regrets. The former butler hinted that Harry’s upcoming 40th birthday might be a time of deep reflection, where the Duke considers the road not taken and the life he left behind. Burrell believes that Harry’s decision to walk away from his royal duties, and the subsequent fallout with his family, is something that continues to weigh on his mind, especially as he reaches this significant age.
“I am sure he’s homesick, and I’m sure his upcoming 40th birthday is making him reflect on the past and his previous life,” Burrell said. For Harry, this homesickness may not just be about missing the place where he grew up, but also the close relationships he once had with his father and brother, relationships that have been strained since his departure from royal duties in 2020. The rift between Harry and his family has been well-documented, with tensions reportedly running high between him and Prince William in particular. Their once-close bond has been shattered, leaving both brothers navigating life in very different ways.
As Burrell points out, Harry’s regrets may be an inevitable part of this reflection. “If Harry doesn’t have regrets, he doesn’t have a soul,” Burrell said, suggesting that the Duke is likely wrestling with conflicting emotions as he looks back on his choices. On the one hand, he has created a new life for himself and his family, free from the rigid expectations and scrutiny of royal life. On the other hand, the cost of that freedom has been high, with his relationships with his father, brother, and the rest of the royal family suffering as a result.
Burrell’s insights provide a rare glimpse into the emotional complexities that may be at play as Harry marks this important birthday. While the Duke of Sussex has, in many ways, achieved the freedom and independence he sought when stepping back from royal duties, the estrangement from his family and the weight of past decisions seem to be casting a shadow over what should be a moment of celebration.
Ultimately, Harry’s 40th birthday may not be the grand affair that many would expect for a prince. Instead, it seems likely to be a time of introspection, where Harry grapples with the choices he has made and the path he has chosen. Surrounded by his wife and children, he may find solace in the love and support they provide, but the question remains—will he ever be able to reconcile the life he left behind with the one he has built? As Paul Burrell suggests, the answers may not come easily for the Duke of Sussex as he navigates this next chapter of his life.
