PRINCE HARRY'S 'EMOTIONAL' CALL TO THE KING

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have reached out to King Charles on his 75th birthday

- GEORGIA TREVITT AND NATHAN KAY

King Charles celebrated his 75th birthday last week, enjoying an intimate dinner with close friends and family at Clarence House. As he blew out his birthday candles, he no doubt reflected on a touching surprise that could already have made his dearest birthday wish come true.

In a shock U-turn earlier that day, the estranged Duke and Duchess of Sussex had reportedly made what could be seen as a first attempt at reconciliation by phoning the King to wish him a happy birthday - marking their first conversation in six months.

Prince Harry, 39, and his wife Meghan, 42, who now live in Montecito, California, previously said they had "no contact" from Buckingham Palace regarding an invitation to the evening birthday event, but put any bad feeling aside to wish King Charles well on his special day.

The olive-branch call was said to be "friendly and cordial", and it's believed the monarch also received a recorded video message from Harry and Meghan's children, Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two, leaving him "very emotional".

In typical fashion, the King had insisted his birthday would be a "normal working day", and he chose to spend it by helping to launch a new food charity initiative. Queen Camilla joined him on a visit to a food distribution hub in Oxfordshire to launch his Coronation Food Project, which aims to end food waste.

Having taken time out for the transatlantic call, "the video message proved a real turning point for Charles", a source tells OK!. "He was really quite taken by it. Relations between the King and his son are still very strained, but he would never let that get in the way of having a relationship with his grandchildren, who he hasn't seen for a very long time."