This past weekend, the royal family shared a birthday tribute to mark Prince Harry's milestone 40th birthday. Countless fans took to the comments to include their well wishes, and even Prince William chimed in to celebrate his brother. But then there were a few skeptical fans who noticed something odd about the selected photo.
Buckingham Palace Responds to Prince Harry Photo Cropping Controversy
Was Meghan cropped out?
Published Sep 17, 2024
•2:38pm
Getty Images
In case you missed it, the royals shared a close-up pic of Harry from 2018, when he and his wife, Meghan Markle, visited the Dogpatch startup hub in Dublin during a trip to Ireland. They wrote, “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” Although the featured image is a solo shot of the Duchess of Sussex, fans quickly discovered that the royal was actually sitting beside his wife in the wider frame. And now, Buckingham Palace is speaking out in response to these claims.
Jimmy Rainford - Pool/Getty Images
Per The Independent, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace "confirmed the image used was not altered and was used in the format it was received." This definitely tracks, because a quick search on Getty Images shows that both versions of the image (one with Meghan and one without) were uploaded by photographer Jimmy Rainford on July 11, 2018. So rather, the royals simply chose a variation that focuses on just Prince Harry.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Shortly before celebrating his birthday, Prince Harry opened up about embarking on a new chapter. He said a statement, "I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40. Becoming a father of two incredibly kind and funny kids has given me a fresh perspective on life, as well as sharpening my focus in all my work. Being a dad is one of life’s greatest joys and has only made me more driven and more committed to making this world a better place."
The prince reportedly celebrated the big day with family and close friends at a private party in Montecito, California. And in addition to all the well wishes, the royal was gifted with a hefty payout from his late grandmother's trust fund.
Enjoy the big 4-0, Harry.
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