Prince Harry’s 40th birthday was marked by a double celebration. In addition to reaching a milestone age, he also received a substantial inheritance from his great-grandmother.
Prince Harry just turned 40, and it seems his milestone birthday came with more than just well-wishes. The Duke of Sussex is reportedly set to receive a substantial inheritance from his great-grandmother, the late Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother waves to well-wishers during the celebration of her 90th birthday on August 4, 1990, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
It’s no small sum either—around £19 million ($23 million) was tucked away for her great-grandchildren back in 1994. At the time, that amounted to nearly two-thirds of her fortune! According to reports, Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, were expected to claim their inheritance in two installments.
The Queen Mother’s 95th Birthday At Her Home Clarence House, London. Prince Harry Holds His Grandmother’s Hand in August 1995 | Source: Getty Images
One at the age of 21 and another at 40. So, now that Prince Harry has officially hit that big birthday, he is now in line to receive his second payout. The funds, originally deposited when the Queen Mother was 94 years old, cleared the seven-year inheritance tax threshold due to her passing in 2002. This means that Prince Harry’s windfall will be tax-free.
Prince Harry was seen wearing his KCVO Neck Order and Star at the Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service on May 8, 2024, in London, England | Source: Getty Images
While exact details of the trust fund remain private, royal experts have suggested that Prince Harry may receive a larger share than his brother. This is believed to be a way of compensating Harry for not being in line for the throne.
A former Palace aide explained to The Times, “It was a way in which the Queen Mother could set aside money for when her great-grandchildren were older…a way of passing a slice of her estate down in a tax-efficient way.”
The two brothers are understood to have already received £6 million ($7.3 million) between them at the age of 21. Now, with Harry’s 40th birthday, a further £8 million ($9.7 million) is expected to be shared.
Still, British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard has stirred up some royal drama. She suggests that Prince William might be feeling a bit “disgruntled” about the sizeable inheritance coming Harry’s way.
Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex follow the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, in London, England, on September 19, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
Chard told Fox News Digital that William’s frustration could stem from Harry’s tell-alls, which have shaken up the monarchy. She believes William may see Harry’s candid revelations as unsupportive and even hurtful towards the royal family.
Prince William and Prince Harry on their way to greet well-wishers in Windsor, England on September 10, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, Harry is expected to be over the moon about his financial windfall. This could boost his confidence and ease his long-held sense of inadequacy compared to his older brother.
Chard also noted that King Charles might breathe a sigh of relief knowing Harry will now be financially stable. This financial cushion could potentially put a pause on Harry’s memoir-writing spree that has been critical of the royals.
Copies of Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare” as seen on January 11, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
However, she indicated that King Charles is unlikely to be more inclined to communicate with Harry. This is due to ongoing disputes over taxpayer-funded security. Harry is reportedly seeking his father’s assistance to secure his preferred level of protection.
King Charles III and Prince Harry ahead of the Committal Service for the late Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022, in Windsor, England. | Source: Getty Images
In an insightful remark, Christopher Andersen, author of “The King,” revealed that the Queen Mother placed two-thirds of her estimated $120 million fortune into a trust fund for her great-grandchildren.
Andersen explained that she had the foresight to prepare for Prince William’s future inheritance of the Duchy of Cornwall. This is a title he gained when Charles ascended to the throne. The inheritance now boasts assets exceeding $1 billion. As for the trust fund, its value has grown significantly, meaning Harry’s share has also increased.
Prince Harry spotted at a polo event in Wellington, Florida on April 13, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
With Prince Harry now clocking 40, he reflected on his past anxieties about turning 30 and expressed excitement about the new decade. In a candid statement to the BBC, Harry shared, “I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40.” He continued, “Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world.”
Prince Harry in Abuja, Nigeria on May 11, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Harry planned to mark the big day with a family celebration in California, followed by a getaway with his closest friends. Despite the ongoing tensions with the Royal Family, they made a gesture of goodwill by posting a birthday message.
Their Instagram post featured a cheerful photo of Harry, captioned, ” Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!”
It seems that, while Prince Harry’s 40th birthday brought him personal joy and a public nod from the Royal Family, the tensions between him and his brother, Prince William, remain unresolved.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge during the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of Diana, Princess of Wales in London, England, on July 1, 2021 | Source: Getty Images
Reports suggest that while Harry is focused on building his life in the U.S., there is one condition under which he might consider returning as a working royal—an apology from his elder brother. Until then, the rift within the royal family appears far from healed.
Harry stands by his choice to step away from royal duties, expressing satisfaction with his decision. Despite his firm stance, Harry is said to be open to a temporary role within the royal family if King Charles III requests him to.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the “Our Planet” global premiere in London, England, on April 4, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
However, friends reportedly noted to The Mirror that he is well aware of William’s attitude towards him. The brothers have reportedly not spoken for months and remain distant. They even avoided contact during their uncle Lord Fellowes’ funeral in Norfolk last month, despite being in the same room.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge during the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of Diana, Princess of Wales in London, England, on July 1, 2021 | Source: Getty Images
Furthermore, reports surfaced that the Prince of Wales believes there’s zero chance of reconciliation after his brother released his memoir “Spare.”
Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex follow the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, in London, England, on September 19, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
However, Harry appears to be moving forward without seeking his brother’s approval. According to The Mirror, he has reconnected with former trusted advisors and old friends to create a plan for potentially reintegrating into UK social circles in the future.
Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex greets the public while departing The Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service in London, England, on May 8, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Nevertheless, sources close to Prince Harry reportedly suggest that any recent communication with former aides is more about seeking strategic or friendly advice rather than a plan to rejoin the royal fold.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive for the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas Day service in Sandringham, Norfolk, on December 25, 2018 | Source: Getty Images
While returning isn’t his current focus, it’s understood that Harry is open to helping if needed. This assistance would come in handy given the recent challenges faced by Charles and Prince William during their extended breaks for cancer treatment.
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, greets well-wishers on the Long Walk outside Windsor Castle in Windsor, United Kingdom, on September 10, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
According to The Mirror, Harry is keen on strengthening his relationship with Charles, especially given the King’s recent health challenges. However, the 40-year-old would still seek an apology from his brother before agreeing to represent the royal family in any capacity.
In previous interviews, Harry hinted that there were events between him and his brother that were left out of his memoir.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 in London, England, on March 9, 2020 | Source: Getty Images
When asked why those details weren’t shared, he suggested that he consciously chose to omit certain incidents, knowing any revelations about family members would invite criticism.
Others, particularly those involving his brother and father, would cause irreparable harm and lead to unforgivable consequences. Despite this, he acknowledged that his family played an essential role in his story, making it difficult to exclude them entirely.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry visit the tunnel and trenches at Vimy Memorial Park during the commemorations for the centenary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge in Vimy, France, on April 9, 2017 | Source: Getty Images
Some of the details about his family were included so they could provide insight into the characters and personalities involved in Harry’s life. Still, he acknowledged that even the contents he did include might already be difficult for his family to forgive.
