Today marks the 41st birthday of the Duke of Sussex, and Meghan Markle chose to celebrate the occasion with a cheeky Instagram tribute — one that quickly set social media buzzing.
The Duchess, who relaunched her Instagram account earlier this year to support her Netflix series With Love, Meghan and her lifestyle brand, shared a throwback snap of Harry taken a decade ago. The photo showed him in a green army jumpsuit, complete with the stitched name “Harry Wales,” during a 2015 visit to Goodwood Aerodrome for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
Alongside the picture, Meghan, 44, wrote a simple but flirtatious caption: “Oh hi, Birthday Boy.”
While the post drew laughter and affection from many of her followers, some critics were quick to question her choice of photo. “This is the best image Meghan could find to wish Prince Harry a happy birthday?” one user quipped. Another joked: “I think she hates him — this photo is proof.” Others, however, applauded the playful tone. “Hahahaha oh Meghan, I love you. Happy birthday Prince Harry,” one fan commented.
This isn’t the first time Meghan has used Instagram for sentimental public tributes. On Valentine’s Day earlier this year, she shared a black-and-white shot of herself kissing Harry, captioning it with a gushing note about missing him while he attended the Invictus Games. “My love, I will eat burgers & fries and fish & chips with you forever,” she wrote at the time.
The Duchess has also used her account to mark her children’s birthdays. In June, for Lilibet’s fourth birthday, Meghan posted a series of photos showing Harry with their daughter, calling her “Daddy’s little girl and favorite adventurer.” For Archie’s sixth birthday in May, she shared a sunset snap of her son with the caption: “Our son. Our sun.”
Since returning to social media on New Year’s Day following a four-year hiatus caused by online trolling, Meghan has embraced using the platform to share both lighthearted and heartfelt glimpses into family life. But as today’s post proves, her playful approach to Harry’s birthday has left the internet divided — with some rolling their eyes and others laughing along.