Royal Family's Birthday Post for Prince Harry Sparks Outrage Over Meghan Markle’s Absence

As Prince Harry marked his 40th birthday on Sunday, a royal family photo shared to celebrate the occasion has ignited a social media backlash. Critics are accusing the royals of using the post as a public relations stunt after noticing that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was notably absent from the image.

The official birthday post, featured on the Royal Family’s social media and shared by the Prince and Princess of Wales, sparked anger as Meghan was cropped out of the photo. Many users on X (formerly Twitter) criticized the move, suggesting that it undermines any gestures of reconciliation.

One user wrote, “The Royal Family cropped Meghan out of that photo. This is not an olive branch.” Another commented, “Charles and William wish Harry a happy birthday but use a photo where Meghan is cropped out.”

The image in question was originally taken on July 11, 2018, during Harry and Meghan’s official visit to Ireland. The photo features the couple engaging with leaders at Dogpatch Labs, a tech hub in Dublin.

Tensions between Harry, Meghan, and the rest of the royal family have been well-documented, especially since their move to the US in 2020. Harry’s memoir, Spare, released in 2023, revealed ongoing strains with King Charles and Prince William, adding to the public scrutiny surrounding the family dynamics.

The cropping of Meghan from the birthday tribute has further fueled calls for re-evaluating the monarchy’s role and its treatment of the couple.