Why Buckingham Palace did NOT crop Meghan Markle out of photograph it used in social media post to mark Prince Harry’s 40th birthday

Buckingham Palace has not left Meghan Markle out of a photo it used in a social media post celebrating Prince Harry’s 40th birthday, MailOnline understands.

Everyone looked up when it turned out that the Duchess was no longer in the photo. The photo was taken when the couple were still working as royals.

In the photo taken by photographer Jimmy Rainford on July 11, 2018, Harry is seen visiting the start-up Dogpatch Labs in Dublin, with Meghan sitting next to him.

Yesterday, the message was posted on King Charles and Queen Camilla’s @RoyalFamily account on X, with the caption: “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!”

Prince William and Kate then also shared the photo post, adding their own message: ‘Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday!’

Some found the news a surprise, given the ongoing tensions between the brothers. The story was further complicated when it was claimed that Meghan had been cut from the series.

But image archives have since revealed that two versions of the photo were released in 2018: one showing Harry, Meghan and four other people in conversation, and another showing just Harry.

Harry is in the exact same pose in both photos, indicating that he was cropped into a single photo by the original photographer at the time.

And now MailOnline understands the photo was supplied to Buckingham Palace in this unedited format by the Press Association and then published without cropping.

Harry, who lives in California after abdicating the monarchy, celebrated his birthday yesterday with Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

After that he would be on his way to a gathering with good friends.

Harry also celebrated his birthday weekend by attending a charity tennis tournament on Saturday in honor of one of Meghan’s best friends.

The Duke and Duchess attended the George Zajfen Tennis Tournament in Los Angeles in honour of Kelly McKee Zajfen’s late son George.

The event for the Alliance for Children’s Rights was in memory of George, who died in July 2022 at the age of nine after being found unconscious in his parents’ home.

Meghan is known to be good friends with Zajfen, co-founder of the alliance that supports pregnant and parenting teens in the foster care system.

In a post on Instagram yesterday, the day of Harry’s birthday, model Zajfen and her family thanked the Sussexes for their support during Saturday’s match.

Alongside five photos, they wrote at the end of a lengthy message: ‘An extra special day too… HAPPY 40th birthday H! May this trip around the sun be the best one yet.’

Harry is entering his fifth decade and this has been a turbulent year for the royal family, with both the King and Princess of Wales diagnosed with cancer.

When the King’s shocking health news broke in February, Harry rushed across the Atlantic to visit him, but his meeting with his father lasted just 45 minutes.

In comments to the BBC, the Duke said: “I was anxious about my 30th birthday but I’m looking forward to my 40th birthday,” and described how fatherhood had given him a new purpose to “make the world a better place.”

Harry tried his luck with the skeleton bobsleigh this year when training with Invictus Games competitors in Canada, and has made near-royal tours to Colombia and Nigeria.

In Colombia, Meghan spoke to a panel about Afro-descendants and power, where she spoke about how her three-year-old daughter Lili had “completely found her voice.”

The couple also relaunched their website Archewell, calling it Sussex.com. The name became The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Harry travelled to London in May to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games and attended a service at St Paul’s Cathedral, but did not meet his brother and father.

Birmingham has won the tender to host the sporting tournament in 2027. The Duke congratulated the city on its success and hopes to attend the Games in the UK in three years’ time.

In July, Harry received the Pat Tillman Award for Service, an award given by sports network ESPN to individuals in the sports world for using his platform to “change the world.”

But Tillman’s mother Mary was said to be shocked that the honor went to “such a controversial and divisive person.”

In his speech, Harry praised Ms. Tillman, saying, “Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect. The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest loss.”

Meanwhile, The Sunday Times reported that his legal battle with the Home Office over his safety while in the UK had left the king “frustrated”.

Harry lost a High Court case against the Home Office in February over a decision to change the level of personal security he receives when he visits the UK. He has now been given the green light to appeal.

During the trial, the court was told that Harry believes his children cannot “feel at home” in the UK if it is “not possible to keep them safe there” and that he is at greater risk than his late mother, with “additional layers of racism and extremism”.

Meghan has embarked on a new venture elsewhere with the soft launch of her American Riviera Orchard brand, sending out limited edition strawberry jam to her friends. However, the company has faced setbacks in its attempts to register the brand.

Harry’s new Netflix documentary series about the world of polo airs in December.

In August, the Duke returned briefly to the UK for the funeral of his uncle Lord Fellowes, staying at Althorp, the childhood home of his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

He reportedly had no interaction with William during the church service.

The Duke has a trip planned to New York later this month, where he will conduct visits for his Archewell Foundation and hold appointments with African Parks, The Halo Trust, The Diana Award and Travalyst.