BIRTHDAY CASH
Prince Harry to accept £8m inheritance despite not being working royal – Meghan’s ‘desperate’ for the cash, experts say
Here's why the timing couldn't be better for Harry and Meghan
PRINCE Harry will accept an £8million inheritance despite not being a working royal - with an expert claiming Meghan is "desperate" for the cash.
Before her death, Harry's great-gran the Queen Mother arranged for him to get the trust fund payment on his 40th birthday.
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That milestone falls today - and Harry is reportedly set to accept the cash sum despite no longer being a working royal.
Former royal butler Grant Harrold told the : "I've no doubt that Harry will accept it.
"It’s money that’s owed to him, money that’s coming to him. I don’t think he will decline the money.
"It’s inheritance so it’s his right. It's already something that has been set in place for years now."
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The Queen Mother put aside a tax-free £19million trust fund in 1994 to leave to her great-grandchildren.
Her bequest was divided into two installments - one payment when the royals turned 21, and another on their 40th.
Royal expert Hugo Vickers said the timing couldn't be better for Harry and Meghan.
Vickers told The Sun: "No doubt it would be helpful because I think he leads a very expensive lifestyle.
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"Hopefully he will put the money to good use. £8million can disappear pretty fast in a place like Montecito.
"The couple have an enormous staff, a big house to maintain, and cars.
"Harry has to pay for his own security too which we know he takes very seriously."
Harry got a surprise 40th birthday message from Kate and William's account this morning - in a hint of an olive branch after their feud.
Posting on Instagram, William and Kate's account said: "Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex."
The official account shared a snap of California-based Harry smiling in a grey suit and white shirt.
But the post was not signed off with William or Kate's initials, as is normally the case for posts they write themselves.
The Royal Family's account shared the same snap, saying: "Wishing the Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!"
It is the first time the royal family has shared a public message for Harry since wishing him a happy birthday in 2021.
Last year the royals declined to publicly celebrate Harry's 39th birthday.
Harry was heard admitting he hadn't heard from his family when asked by a well-wisher at the 2023 Invictus Games in Germany.
The royals' silence came after Harry released his memoir Spare, which blasted his entire family - including William, Kate and Camilla.
This year prince is marking his 40th birthday with family and friends at his £11million mansion in California.
He will then jet off for a "weekend getaway" with a few close friends, The Sun revealed this week.
It is not yet known where Harry will go or who will join him on the trip.
But the group is unlikely to include his brother William - as he and Harry have not spoken for more than two years.
And Harry's wife Meghan and children Archie and Lilibet will stay at home while he heads off with his mates.
The band of brothers could include Harry's polo BFF, his "second dad" and a "party animal" pal.
Harry is reportedly asking former aides to help him plan a comeback from his US exile and spend more time in Britain.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, is said to be consulting people "from his old life" after growing frustrated with American PR experts.
Harry reportedly plans to spend more time in the UK in a bid to repair his relationship with King Charles.
The strategy could see a "rehabilitated" Harry stage a partial return to royal life.
But insiders said Harry and Meghan are not seeking a permanent return from California.
A source told the : "Harry is turning away from all sorts of Hollywood publicists and is seeking counsel from his old friends and associates.
"He is clearly reaching out thinking, 'I need to do something different because what I'm doing is clearly not working'."
The source added: "In short, Prince Harry is rethinking the way he operates."
Harry has reportedly sent WhatsApp messages to a number of old friends in the UK.
The prince's former private secretary Edward Lane Fox has reportedly been tipped to plot a comeback.
But Lane Fox said: "It's not something I've got a view on I'm afraid."
Harry has reportedly decided not to update his memoir Spare for its paperback edition, which is due to come out on October 24.
He will not be doing any interviews to promote the paperback, it is understood.
Friends are said to believe Harry's comeback could succeed if it staged with zero publicity or "fuss".
It is feared that Harry's relationship with his brother William is beyond repair.
But King Charles is reportedly open to spending more time with his son.
It comes after The Sun revealed William and Harry stood "virtually back to back" at their uncle’s memorial service.
Harry secretly dashed from his US home to the service for Lord Robert Fellowes, who was married to Princess Diana's sister Jane.
But the Duke of Sussex and his brother did not exchange a word at Thursday’s memorial in the Norfolk village of Snettisham.
One mourner told The Sun: "They were only five yards from each other."
William and Harry chatted to mourners as they mingled at their uncle’s memorial service.
At one point the princes were standing “virtually back to back” at the wake.
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But both left separately without seemingly exchanging a word, onlookers said.
The Sun revealed Harry jetted in secret from the US after previously saying he could not attend due to security fears.
Prince Harry's £8million gift for his 40th birthday
PRINCE Harry is set to inherit an £8million gift on his 40th birthday from the Queen Mother.
The late Queen Elizabeth began collecting a sizable trust fund for the Duke of Sussex, who will celebrate his special milestone on September 15, when he was just 10-years-old.
A former Palace aide told The Times: “There was a trust fund set up at the time.
"It was a way in which the Queen Mother could set aside money for when her great-grandchildren were older and a way of passing a slice of her estate down in a tax-efficient way.
"It was a way in which some of her estate could be ring-fenced for them.”
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