Royal family use picture cropping out Meghan Markle for Prince Harry's 40th birthday

The Duchess of Sussex was clearly absent from the congratulatory messages posted on the royal family's official social media account on Sunday, which were then shared by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The note, featuring a birthday cake emoji, showcased a photo of Harry from 2018. This image was captured in Dublin when he was still serving as a royal, during a trip with Meghan.

Harry and Meghan were seen together in the unedited image.

This marked the first occasion that the royal family publicly addressed Harry since they sent him birthday wishes back in 2021.

He celebrated his special birthday on Sunday with Meghan and their kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. After that, he's reportedly planning to go away for a get-together with close friends.

As Harry reaches his 50s, he finds himself in the midst of a tumultuous year for the royal family, marked by the cancer diagnoses of both the King and the Princess of Wales.

However, the duke, who now resides in California after leaving his royal duties, is still distant from his brother, the Prince of Wales, and has a difficult relationship with Charles.

When the surprising news about the King's health broke in February, Harry quickly traveled across the ocean to visit him, but their time together was limited to only 45 minutes.

Harry and Meghan currently reside in California.

In remarks shared with the BBC, the duke expressed, "I felt uneasy about turning 30, but I'm really looking forward to 40." He also talked about how becoming a father has reinvigorated his drive to help improve the world.

Over the past year, Harry has taken part in skeleton bobsled training with competitors from the Invictus Games in Canada. He has also made significant trips that resemble royal tours to both Colombia and Nigeria.

While in Colombia, Meghan participated in a discussion on Afro-Descendant Women and Power, sharing that her three-year-old daughter, Lili, has "definitely discovered her voice."

The couple has reintroduced their Archewell website, renaming it Sussex.com with the new title The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

In May, Harry made a trip to London to mark ten years of the Invictus Games. He participated in a service at St. Paul's Cathedral but didn’t get a chance to see his brother or father.

Birmingham has been awarded the opportunity to host the sports event in 2027. The duke has praised the city for its achievement and is expected to be present at the Games in the UK in three years.

In July, Harry was honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service, which is presented by the sports network ESPN to those in the sports community who leverage their influence to make a positive impact on the world.

However, Tillman's mother, Mary, reportedly voiced her disbelief that the recognition was awarded to someone who is so controversial and polarizing.

In his speech, Harry commended Mrs. Tillman, stating: "Her dedication to honoring Pat's memory is incredibly heartfelt and commands my admiration. The connection between a mother and her son is everlasting, going beyond even the most profound losses."

The duke has been involved in legal battles with tabloid publications concerning accusations of phone tapping and illegal collection of information.

In an ITV documentary, Harry revealed that his commitment to standing up against the tabloids regarding accusations of phone tapping was a significant factor in damaging his relationship with his family.

The Sunday Times stated that the King's ongoing legal dispute with the Home Office regarding his safety in the UK has caused him "frustration."

In February, Harry faced defeat in his High Court case against the Home Office regarding a decision to alter the extent of his personal security during his visits to the UK. However, he has now received permission to appeal the ruling.

In the court proceedings, it was mentioned that Harry feels his kids can't truly feel at home in the UK if their safety isn't guaranteed. He believes that, compared to his late mother, he encounters a heightened level of risk, compounded by increased racism and extremism.

In the meantime, Meghan began a new project by soft-launching her brand, American Riviera Orchard. She sent out limited edition strawberry jam to her friends as part of this initiative. However, the business has encountered some challenges in securing its trademark.

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Harry's upcoming documentary series on Netflix, which explores the realm of polo, is scheduled to debut in December.

In August, the duke made a short trip back to the UK to attend his uncle Lord Fellowes' funeral. During his visit, he stayed at Althorp, which was the family home of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

It's claimed that he didn't engage with William during the church service.