Prince Harry may have begun repairing his strained bond with his father, King Charles, but the same cannot be said for his relationship with the Princess of Wales.

The frostiness was clear when Kate Middleton chose not to publicly acknowledge Harry’s 41st birthday last week.

Harry marked the occasion on September 15, just days after an in-person meeting with Charles at Clarence House – their first in 19 months. Though the meeting lasted just 54 minutes, it was hailed as a step toward rebuilding ties.

But the silence from William and Kate suggested otherwise. Royal commentator Duncan Larcombe says the lack of a birthday message spoke volumes: “Kate’s silence spoke a thousand words,” he told OK! magazine.

“They didn’t post anything, which the royals normally would do. So Kate’s message was loud and clear: the ball’s not in our court, Harry – it’s in yours.”

Subtle Royal Signals

According to Larcombe, William and Kate are constrained by royal protocol, meaning they cannot openly discuss Harry and Meghan. Instead, they rely on small gestures – or, in this case, the absence of them.

“They’ve kept silent throughout and rolled with all the punches,” he explained. “They’re not going to call Harry’s bluff by sending him joyful birthday wishes. Instead, they remain silent and avoid him at all costs.”

Despite this, Harry has expressed a desire to bring his children back to Britain and to reconnect with his family. “I think Harry would love William and Kate to forgive him and Meghan,” Larcombe said. “He’s been cast out, so why wouldn’t he want to come in from the cold?

“But I’m not sure Harry has shown any public sign of wanting to reconcile. As for Meghan, she seems uninterested. She’s focused on her own career and doesn’t care what William and Kate think. She’s in her own Meghan bubble.”

A Stark Contrast to Last Year

When Harry turned 40, both Charles and William and Kate sent birthday wishes on social media. This year, however, there was silence.

Some chalked it up to Harry’s age not being a milestone, or to the royals being occupied with President Donald Trump’s state visit. But Larcombe insists the omission was deliberate, noting William and Kate also avoided meeting Harry during his four-day UK trip.

“They didn’t want to see him,” Larcombe said bluntly. “They’re not ready for any reconciliation, especially after Harry and Meghan branded Kate a liar during the Oprah interview and later in Spare. Those personal attacks on Kate cut deep, and William is still furious.”

Family Divide Remains Deep

While Charles risked headlines by meeting his son, William faced no such pressure. “The King was in a difficult position,” Larcombe explained. “If he hadn’t met Harry, it would have been a bigger story. But William had no reason to. He’s still reeling from what was said about his wife.”

In California, however, Harry received a warmer reception. Meghan posted a photo of him in uniform captioned, “Oh hi, Birthday Boy,” and days earlier shared a toast to his return with glasses of her As Ever rosé wine. Harry spent the day with Meghan and their children, Archie and Lilibet.

Harry later hinted at more visits to the UK, saying, “This week has definitely brought that closer.” Yet William and Kate show no signs of welcoming him back. “The last time Harry was in London, William wasn’t even in the same country,” Larcombe pointed out. “It’s been three years since the Queen’s death, and three years since William and Kate even saw Harry and Meghan.

“They’re still clearly furious with him. So never mind reconciliation – relations are as sour as ever.”