Ahead of his 40th birthday this weekend, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has shared his thoughts and reflections in a statement to the BBC. The prince, who will celebrate his milestone birthday on Sunday with family in California, expressed his excitement about entering his fourth decade.
“I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40,” Prince Harry remarked. “Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world.”
Following his birthday celebrations with family, Prince Harry plans a vacation with a group of his closest friends. In his statement, the Duke also highlighted the significant impact of his children, Archie, age five, and Lilibet, age three.
“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,” he said through his spokesperson. “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 past decade has been marked by considerable change for Prince Harry. When he turned 30 in 2014, he had just returned from his second tour with the British army in Afghanistan. He has previously shared in his memoir that this period was challenging, characterized by lethargy and “terrifying panic attacks” upon his return.
In 2014, Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games, an initiative he created to honor injured servicemen and women and to increase public awareness of the realities of war. The Games, which remain a personal passion for him, are set to return to the UK in 2027 when Birmingham hosts the event. Dominic Reid, the outgoing chief executive of the Invictus Games Foundation, described the initiative as “his first child” and noted Harry’s deep commitment to it.
Prince Harry’s transition from a working royal to a private life in California began in 2020 when he and Meghan Markle relocated from the UK. His relationship with his family has been strained and highly publicized, and recent speculation about a potential return to the UK has been dismissed by those close to him. They assert that he is content and well-settled in California, although he remains interested in spending more time in the UK working with the organizations he supports.
A legal dispute with the Home Office over his security arrangements in the UK continues, complicating any potential return. In May, Prince Harry visited London solo for charity work but declined an offer to stay at a royal residence, citing security concerns.
As he prepares to enter his 40s, Prince Harry seems poised for the future with optimism. His final words to the BBC reflect this outlook: “Bring on the next decade,” he said, as he gears up for his birthday celebrations this Sunday.
