Meghan Markle Cropped Out of Prince Harry’s Birthday Photo Shared by Royal Family

Meghan Markle was noticeably cropped out of a birthday photo shared by the royal family for Prince Harry’s 40th birthday. On Sunday, the Duke of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 received messages of love from King Charles III, Prince William, and Kate Middleton on social media.

The photo chosen to celebrate Harry featured him beaming during a 2018 visit to Dogpatch Labs in Dublin. However, the original image included Markle, who was smiling right beside him at the table. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed that the image used was not altered and was shared in the format it was received.

This acknowledgment marked the first time in three years that the royal family publicly recognized Harry’s birthday. The official royal account wished him a happy 40th, and the Prince and Princess of Wales reposted the message, adding their own birthday wishes.

Reports indicate that Harry was also set to receive phone calls from some estranged relatives on his special day. Following Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in September 2022, new protocols were implemented by Charles, limiting social media posts to working members of the royal family. Since stepping back from royal duties in January 2020 and relocating to North America, Harry’s relationship with his father and brother has remained strained.