Sovereign Harry commended his 40th birthday celebration end of the week by going to a cause tennis competition to pay tribute to one of his significant other Meghan Markle’s dearest companions.
The Duke and Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 showed up at the George Zajfen Tennis Competition in Los Angeles on Saturday out of appreciation for Kelly McKee Zajfen’s late child George.
The occasion for the Partnership for Kids’ Privileges was in recognition of George, who passed on matured only nine in July 2022 in the wake of being found lethargic in their family home.
Meghan is known to be old buddies with Zajfen, prime supporter of the union which upholds pregnant and nurturing youngsters in the child care framework in Los Angeles.
In an Instagram post yesterday, the day of Harry’s birthday, model Zajfen and her family said thanks to the Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍es for their help at the opposition on Saturday.
Close by five photographs, they composed toward the finish of a long message: ‘Additional exceptional day as well… Cheerful 40th Birthday celebration H! May this outing around the sun be awesome yet.’
Different stars in participation at the competition included Property Siblings star Jonathan Scott, New Young lady entertainer Zooey Deschanel, Cleans entertainer Zach Braff and Meghan’s companion and previous Suits partner Abigail Spencer, announced Individuals.
The pictures in the post showed the Duke and Duchess posing with the Zajfen family — with Harry wearing a T-shirt and blazer, and Meghan wearing a tan dress.
The Zajfen family wrote that it was an ‘incredible day – full of emotions and lots of love’ and the funds raised would ‘go directly to supporting children in foster care, ensuring they have the legal protections, resources and opportunities they deserve in honour of our beautiful son Georgie’.
Their post continued: ‘Our community showed up in a big way and I’m in awe! Get ready for days of posting images of this magical afternoon because I have so many people to thank and shout from the roof tops just how amazing you all are!
‘But first, to our presenting sponsors, the Archewell Foundation. Harry and Meghan, you have been such a guiding light for our family not just in the way you have shown up in friendship but how you have shown up through the incredible work the Archewell Foundation does every day.
‘I’m in awe of your commitment to community and to friendship. On behalf of the Alliance for Children’s Rights, we thank you. On behalf of our family, we love you.’
The tournament, which has been held for 20 years but was recently renamed in honour of George, featured a round-robin doubles competition and a lunch.
The Duchess has supported Zajfen through grief since George died – and Zajfen has previously described Meghan as an ‘incredible friend and mother’, adding that she is ‘always the first to say yes and support those you love’.
Harry, who lives in California after stepping down from the working monarchy, spent his birthday yesterday with Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
He is then said to be heading away for a gathering with close friends.
It comes as Prince William and Kate wished Harry a happy 40th birthday in a message on social media.
The Prince and Princess of Wales shared an earlier post from the Royal Family on X and added their own message, which read: ‘Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍!’
Some will see the post as a surprise move given the unresolved tensions between the brothers. Their estrangement has shown no sign of abating, with the duke also having a strained relationship with his father, the King.
A post from the Royal Family account earlier yesterday marked the first public birthday message for Harry since 2021. A post shared on X said simply: ‘Wishing The Duke of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 a very happy 40th birthday today!’
The message was also accompanied by a picture of a smiling Harry and an emoji of a birthday cake.
The picture chosen of Harry – taken when he was a working royal in 2018 – was shot during a visit to a start-up in Dublin with Meghan next to him. But she was cropped out, seemingly by the original photographer at the time.
Harry enters his fifth decade in what has been a rollercoaster year for the royal family, with both the King and the Princess of Wales being diagnosed with cancer.
When the King’s shock health news was announced in February, Harry made a transatlantic dash to see him but his meeting with his father was kept to just 45 minutes.
In comments released to the BBC, the duke said ‘I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40’, and described how fatherhood had given him a renewed sense of purpose to make ‘this world a better place’.
Harry’s year has seen him try his hand at the skeleton bobsled when he joined Invictus Games competitors training in Canada, and undertake quasi-royal tours to Colombia and Nigeria.
In Colombia, Meghan addressed a panel on Afro-Descendant Women and Power and told how her three-year-old daughter Lili had ‘absolutely found her voice’.
The couple also relaunched their Archewell website, rebranding it as Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍.com under the title The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍.
Harry travelled to London in May to celebrate a decade of his Invictus Games and attended a service at St Paul’s Cathedral, but did not meet his brother or father.
Birmingham has won the bid to host the sporting competition in 2027, with the duke congratulating the city on its success and looking set to attend the games in the UK in three years’ time.
In July, Harry received the Pat Tillman Award for Service, awarded by sports channel ESPN to individuals in the sporting world, for using his platform to ‘change the world’.
But Tillman’s mother Mary reportedly expressed her shock that the honour was given to ‘such a controversial and divisive individual’.
In his speech, Harry praised Mrs 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 losses.’
Meanwhile, The Sunday Times reported that his legal battle with the Home Office over his security while in the UK had ‘frustrated’ the King.
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.
During the case, the court was told Harry believes his children cannot ‘feel at home’ in the UK if it is ‘not possible to keep them safe’ there and that he faces a greater risk than his late mother, with ‘additional layers of racism and extremism’.
Elsewhere, Meghan started a new venture with the soft launch of her brand American Riviera Orchard when she sent limited edition strawberry jam to her friends – although the business has faced setbacks with its attempts at trademarking.
Harry’s new Netflix documentary series about the world of polo is set to air in December.
There was a brief return to the UK for the duke in August for the funeral of his uncle Lord Fellowes, when he stayed at Althorp, the ancestral home of his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales.
He reportedly had no interaction with William at the church service.
The duke has an upcoming trip to New York later this month, where he will carry out visits for his Archewell Foundation, and engagements with African Parks, The Halo Trust, The Diana Award, and Travalyst.
