Prince Harry facing 40th birthday celebrations 'problem'

Thank you for following this Meghan and Harry LIVE blog today, have a good evening from the Express team.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were warned that their "faux royal tours" abroad could "deepen" the ongoing rift with the Royal Family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex embarked on what was described by many as a "successful" three-day trip to Nigeria earlier this month to promote mental health for soldiers and empower young people.

And they also hinted that there could be more tours on the horizon after Harry told PEOPLE that it's "hugely important for us to meet directly with people, supporting our causes and listening, in order to bring about solutions, support and positive change."

But now a PR expert has claimed trips of this nature could have an impact on the Montecito couple's already strained relationship with the Royal Family.

PR specialist Lynn Carratt from Press Box PR told the Mirror: "These faux-royal tours could deepen their rift with the Royal Family, if not handled correctly.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told GB News that Meghan chose to stay away from the UK due to her poor approval rating and the rift between the Sussexes and the Royal Family.

Fizwilliams said: "It was not a question of supporting him [Harry], she [Meghan] was not coming here because her ratings in the polls are terrible.

"The Royal Family has this huge rift, so there are all sorts of reasons why she chose to stay away.

"She assumed which turned out to be the case that she would get positive publicity in Nigeria.

"It made total sense not to accompany Harry to St Paul's Cathedral, it would have been unthinkable a few years ago that this would happen but it has."

Meghan Markle has faced yet another snub from this side of the pond - this time from British fashion designer Julien Macdonald.

In the major blow, Julien came out with his judgement of the former working royal and expressed his unequivocal favouritism of the Princess of Wales over Meghan.

Speaking at the Fragrance Foundation Awards in London, the designer said that he would love to partner up with Princess Kate as soon as possible - but couldn't say the same for Prince Harry's wife.

According to the Daily Mail, he said: "Kate's amazing... I'd love to dress her in one of my dresses. I've got a great relationship with Camilla, the Queen. She's incredible."

After being asked if he would like to see Meghan in one of his designs, he promptly said: "No, I prefer Kate and Camilla."

Prince Harry made a subtle swipe at King Charles as he explained why the two wouldn't be meeting his father during his visit to the UK earlier this month, a royal commentator has claimed.

The Duke of Sussex returned to the country to attend an event in London to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, but his spokesperson announced the prince wouldn't be seeing the monarch "due to His Majesty's full programme."

Speaking on Sky News Australia's Royal Report, writer and broadcaster Esther Krakue said it's known the King's youngest son has insisted on staying in hotels when he comes to the UK "because he believes he can move in and out anonymously, and that it allows for some better levels of protection."

But she said it "does beg the question as to why he chose to refuse staying at a royal residence. If he stayed at St. James' Palace, for example, he would have been right next to Clarence House, and he would have been able to see the King, even if briefly.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made one crucial mistake that made their exile from the Royal Family inevitable, a royal expert has claimed.

They have suggested that if the Duchess of Sussex had shown "restraint" in the couple's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, then they may not have been cut off by the Firm.

The couple sat down with the chat show host for their first interview since making the decision to step down as senior working royals. Meghan detailed the lack of support she received whilst working as a royal and claimed discussions had taken place about their then-unborn son's skin colour.

Royal expert and author Tom Quinn told the Mirror: "Everyone noted that William and Kate and the Royal Family in general were quite restrained in their responses to the Oprah interview which made them look good. It would’ve been much better - and Harry and Meghan can see this now - if they had been similarly measured."

"They could’ve said to Oprah, ‘We know it wasn’t easy for anyone and we know the Royal Family has its traditions, but they could’ve been more flexible and welcoming for Meghan'. If they had approached it like that everyone, including the Royal Family, would’ve been far less [likely] to cut the couple off so completely."

The reported row Prince Harry and King Charles row is still ongoing, whether or not the monarch did offer his son a place to stay when he visited the UK earlier this month.

But one royal insider has claimed it is a friend of the Duke of Sussex that is keeping the story going.

Rebecca English appeared on the latest episode of Palace Confidential, saying she finds the situation to be "fascinating."

She believes that one of Harry’s friends is "leaking" this story as if it puts him in a good light, but it’s quite the opposite.

"Prince Harry issued a statement, which was quite pithy, saying, 'I really wanted to see my father, but effectually he was too busy to see me.'

"Now, people close to him are briefing, well, actually, you know, the king did offer him a place to stay, I believe that place to be St James’s Palace, but Harry felt he couldn’t stay there, because it wasn’t secure enough for him.

"What I find extraordinary is people close to Harry leaking this story, think it paints him in a good light, because I don’t think it does."

Prince Archie has largely remained out of the public eye since his birth in 2019. Despite his parents' frequent appearances in the media, both Archie and his sister Lilibet have been kept away from the limelight.

When the youngster was born, royal enthusiasts quickly examined his publicly available birth certificate, and noticed an unusual detail.

The official document lists Harry as 'His Royal Highness Henry Charles Albert David Duke of Sussex', a title that notably omits 'Prince'. This omission puzzled many, especially considering that both William and Charles were referred to as 'Prince' on their children's birth certificates.

On the birth certificates of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, William is identified as 'His Royal Highness Prince William Arthur Philip Louis Duke of Cambridge'. Similarly, Charles was styled as 'His Royal Highness Prince Charles Philip Arthur George Prince of Wales' on the birth certificates of William and Harry.

Prince Harry's transition away from his "pheasant shooting friends" is being embraced by Meghan Markle, who allegedly "doesn't get on" with his former circle of friends, according to a royal expert.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated to the US in 2020, severing ties with their previous royal lifestyle and many of Harry's friends at the time. The couple are not believed to be troubled by the loss of these friendships, as a royal author suggests they are "happy to forget" their past life.

Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster and a close friend of Harry, is set to wed in the coming days - but the Duke will not be present, reports the Mirror.

Royal expert and author Tom Quinn exclusively told The Mirror: "Harry hates the idea of completely losing touch with his old Etonian and army friends and he was close to Hugh Grosvenor, but attending a wedding at which his brother will be an usher is just history repeating itself in the most painful way.

"Harry felt he should have been invited to be an usher, but once again his brother takes precedence. However, missing the wedding and gradually losing contact with his old friends isn't entirely negative for Harry.

"He is aware that Meghan detests many of his old woke-hating, pheasant-shooting friends and those old friendships are still intertwined with a past that Harry is, in many ways, happy to leave behind."

Good morning from London. We'll be bringing you the latest news and updates about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. If you wish to share any tips and royal-related news with us, please get in touch - paul.withers@reachplc.com.