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."
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A CITY OF TWO HALVES
There's a holiday for every budget to be found in Dubai, as OK!'s Faith Richardson discovered
'Christmas is a double whammy'
Chef James Martin on the pressures of dividing his time between his restaurants and his family over the festivities
LEARN HOW TO PLEASE YOURSELF
The festive season can be an incredibly stressful time, particularly for people-pleasers who struggle to put their own needs first
'There's a bit of faking it until you make it'
Actor Paul Mescal on entering the Gladiator II arena, building a blockbuster body for his role as fighter Lucius Verus, and heading up an A-list cast of Hollywood's finest stars
THE A-LIST HAIL HOLLYWOOD'S BIG HITTERS
A line-up of the film world's best-known faces attended this year's Governors Awards to celebrate lifetime achievements
'I think we arrived right on time'
The stars of the long-awaited film Wicked, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, tell us why its themes are so relevant right now and why the musical is so dear to their hearts
'No one knows who I am'
Having first found fame on social media, GK Barry has become the breakout star of this year's I'm A Celebrity
'I still pinch myself about how we met'
Now legally married, MAFS Uk’s Adam and Tayah Aveling are looking forward to Christmas with their daughter and welcoming baby number two in 2025
THE ROYAL WEEK
It was a sad week for Queen Camilla, but a good week for the royal family’s charities with visits to hospitals and homeless centres
WILLIAM AND KATE'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS
After a challenging year for the royal family, the Prince and Princess of Wales plan to give their children an unforgettable time filled with fun and festivities
