Prince Harry's 40th birthday plans revealed: How the Duke will celebrate his milestone in Montecito

Prince Harry is set to turn 40 this weekend – and the once party-going Duke is said to have opted for some very low-key celebrations. 

The Duke of Sussex will celebrate his birthday on September 15, at the $14.7million mansion in Montecito, California, he shares with his wife Meghan Markle. 

Details of Harry’s birthday celebrations have been reported by HELLO! Magazine, suggesting Harry has opted for a birthday surrounded only by those closest to him. 

Harry will reportedly celebrate with a party in his Montecito home, joined by Meghan and their two children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.  

He will then enjoy a ‘weekend getaway’ in the mountains with his closest friends to celebrate the start of his fifth decade, according to the magazine. 

Prince Harry is set to turn 40 this weekend – and the once party-going Duke is said to have opted for some very low-key celebrations (pictured on his tour to Colombia last month)

Harry has reportedly opted for low-key celebrations, surrounded only by close family and friends. Pictured with Meghan on Colombia tour last month

One of the Duke’s old friends told HELLO!: ‘He has longer to work things out now. He and Meghan are not under any time pressure – it’s all on their own terms.’

It’s a far cry from Harry’s 30th birthday a decade ago – which he celebrated with a black tie event at Clarence House joined by his elder brother Prince William. 

These days Harry spends a more low-key life in the luxurious neighbourhood of Montecito, a celebrity haunt where his neighbours include the likes of Oprah and Katy Perry. 

Other stars who own properties in the area include Ellen DeGeneres, Steve Martin, Jennifer Aniston, Ariana Grande, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rob Lowe. 

Harry is said to spend his time riding his bike followed by a security team in a Range Rover, or walking his dog alone on the beach, insiders claimed last week.  

He is also said to spend his time at his desk, on Zoom calls with charities and his team, or chatting with Meghan about upcoming potential trips. 

There is a long meditation in his diary each day – and often a workout with a personal trainer.

Neighbours and locals in Montecito have spoken to The Daily Telegraph about the couple’s life there – and admit they barely see them, especially Harry. 

Harry will reportedly celebrate with a party in his Montecito home (pictured), joined by Meghan and their two children Prince Archie , five, and Princess Lilibet, three

Harry will reportedly celebrate with a party in his Montecito home, joined by Meghan and their two children. Harry and Meghan are pictured at the ESPYs in July

Details of Harry’s birthday celebrations have been revealed in HELLO! Magazine , demonstrating how Harry has opted for a birthday surrounded only by those closest to him (pictured with Prince Archie in 2019)

One declared: ‘They keep themselves to themselves. I haven’t seen Harry around much. Normally when you see him around here, he’s walking his Labrador on the beach or on his bicycle followed by his security in a Range Rover’.  

Meghan, however, is said to have joined a local mahjong group, stops to speak to locals in the street or shops and has bonded with other celeb-locals including Ellen DeGeneres, who shares a love of chickens with the former Suits star.

The Sussexes do venture out together from time to time. They enjoy date nights together at the local steakhouse named Lucky’s or pop out for an Italian meal at Tre Lune where a margherita pizza is $24 and spaghetti and meatballs is $35.

Harry’s previous birthday have been difficult events for the Prince, who remembered turning 13 amid the tragedy of his mother’s death in his autobiography Spare. 

In Spare, he revealed his thoughts at the time: ‘She’ll be back. She has to be. It’s my ­birthday in two weeks.’

He shot his first stag at Balmoral on his 15th birthday, had a low-key 20th as he was preparing for his Sandhurst entrance exams – although the following month he was brawling with photographers outside a London nightclub.

On his 25th birthday he was on holiday in Botswana, celebrating with cake and cocktails; on his 28th he was a soldier under ­Taliban fire at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

Meghan and Harry share this desk. The Duke of Sussex is seen mucking around outside the window while working from home on his wife’s 40th birthday in 2021

Harry puts a 30-40-minute meditation in his diary each day to make sure it happens

As Harry turned 30, he had just left the army, split up with his ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas and launched the first Invictus Games. 

And his 30th birthday party was very different from how he plans to spent his 40th: Prince William threw a black-tie party for his ­little brother at Clarence House, where 30 of his best friends toasted Harry with cases of ­Highgrove champagne sent by his father. This was not mentioned in Spare, however.  

The Sussexes have already completed two quasi-royal tours this year to Nigeria and Colombia, and are said to be planning at third trip.  

The couple have been buoyed by the success of the two tours and are now planning a further overseas trip for some point later this year, according to HELLO!

Likely destinations are believed to include Lesotho and Botswana, where Harry’s charity Sentebale operates. The Duke last visited the countries in 2019.

Speaking about Harry’s foreign trips and charity work, an insider told Hello!: ‘That’s his world, that’s what he’s used to and that’s what he knows. He can still add value.’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at San Basilio de Palenque in Colombia on August 17

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with students of the La Giralda School in Bogota on August 16

It comes after the couple’s tour of Colombia cost the country Col$244,245,305 (£44,725.14), which included spending on security and internal transport.

The figure was released by Colombia’s vice-president Francia Marquez, who organised the four-day trip, following a request by Senator Maria Fernanda Cabal.

Ms Cabal, who is her political opponent, previously branded the quasi-royal tour between August 15 and 18 as ‘showmanship’ and ‘wasteful spending’.

But the vice-president’s office also revealed that Harry and Meghan paid for their own flights and accommodation in Bogota as well as general expenses.

During their trip, Harry and Meghan visited a local school and joined a summit in collaboration with their Archewell Foundation about creating a healthier digital landscape.

The Sussexes also took part in a forum paying tribute to the contributions of Afro-Colombian women, leaders and entrepreneurs.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Lightway Academy in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 10

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 10

And Harry joined in a game of volleyball on a visit to Colombian Invictus Games athletes in Bogota.

Harper’s Bazaar magazine covered the trip as the only words pool.

The quasi-royal tour had many similarities to the programme of an official royal overseas visit.

And it came after the Sussexes’ three-day visit to Nigeria in May at the invitation of the West African nation’s chief of defence staff.

Harry and Meghan stepped down from the working monarchy in 2020 and no longer travel at the request of the UK Government on official overseas royal visits, when travel costs would have usually been met by the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant.

Harry lost a High Court challenge against the Home Office in February over a decision to change the level of his personal security when he visits the UK, but he has been given the green light to appeal.

It comes after the teaser for Harry and Meghan’s latest Netflix project dropped just hours after Kensington Palace released an intimate cancer recovery video for Princess Kate. 

POLO, the new documentary series following elite global players of the sport, was advertised on Netflix’s social media yesterday and has been created by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Productions. 

The announcement came just a few hours after William and Kate posted an emotional video celebrating the end of the Princess’s chemotherapy journey following a difficult health crisis earlier this year. 

In the three-minute long clip, Kate warned that ‘doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus’ and admitted the last nine months have been a ‘scary and unpredictable’ time for her family.

Kensington Palace has not confirmed whether the princess – seen with William – expects to return to a full programme of duties next year

The Princess said the experience has reminded her and her husband to ‘reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.’

There is no evidence to suggest the timing of the Netflix announcement was planned around Kate’s video.

The Netflix announcement reads: ‘POLO is a new documentary series that follows elite global players and offers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the fast-paced world of the sport. 

‘From Archewell Productions and Boardwalk Pictures, premiering this December only on Netflix.’ 

William and Kate’s video was filmed in Norfolk and featured the couple’s three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – as well as Kate’s parents.      

In her message the princess says: ‘As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment. The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown. 

‘The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you. With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.

Catherine and William hug each other on a picnic blanket in an adorable moment from the video 

Kate Middleton’s family featured in the emotional three-minute video 

Princess Catherine’s mother Carole featured in the emotional video announcing the end of Kate’s cancer 

Catherine spoke of her ‘relief’ at her programme of chemo finally coming to an end 

‘This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved. ‘

Referring to her plans for the coming months, Catherine continues: ‘Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes. I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.

‘Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life. William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time. Everyone’s kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling.’

And she ends it with a deeply moving and emotional message to fellow cancer patients and their families, saying: ‘To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.’  

MailOnline has previously contacted Netflix and Archewell for comment. 

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