Prince Harry is celebrating his birthday today, but will be twinged with sadness as the first to take place without his beloved grandmother.
The Duke turns 38 just a week after The Queen passed away at the age of 96, with Harry spending the day preparing for her funeral next week.
Last year Her Majesty sent a heartfelt birthday message to her grandson, in what turned out to be the final one he received from her, according to The Daily Star.
It came after his controversial decision to step down from royal duties and prioritise a new life in the US with his wife, Meghan Markle and their two children.
The royal family's social media accounts uploaded four pictures of Harry as a birthday tribute, one which included wife, Meghan in Australia in 2018 and another of the Duke high-fiving a child in Botswana, the Daily Star reports.
The Queen's final birthday message to Prince Harry read: "Wishing The Duke of Sussex a happy birthday today!".
A body language expert claimed that his face looked to "etched in sadness" while marching behind the Queen's coffin. While the pair were said to have a strong bond, with Harry even going as far to name his daughter Lilibet, which was the Queen's nickname, it will likely bring back memories of his own mother's funeral, which he attended at age 12.
Onlookers noted that Prince Harry was dressed in a black suit rather than wearing uniform like other members of the family. Despite serving in the Army for 10 years, rising to the rank of captain, and doing two tours of duty in Afghanistan, Harry was stripped of his honorary military roles, including Captain General of the Royal Marines, after he decided to exit his roles an active member of the Royal Family.
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