Even his dad WON'T TAKE HIS CALLS'

As the duke turns 40, his family seem to be more distant than ever

- Emily Andrews

On September 15, Prince Harry is 40. But it's unlikely that his seminal birthday will be marked with bells and whistles on the Royal Family's social media accounts, as is usually the case for senior royals. In fact, it's questionable whether his family will even contact him at all.

When the Sussexes cut loose from the monarchy in 2020 to make a new life in America, they gained financial independence and the freedom to shape the lives of their young family in whatever way they saw fit.

But in the process, after the brickbats, 'truth bombs' and accusations of Oprah, Netflix and Harry's biography Spare, he lost his older brother, strained his relationship with various members of the Royal Family to breaking point and left many old friends and trusted staff behind.

Now, even his own father is not taking his calls. I'm told that when courtiers bring the phone to the King (Charles doesn't have his own mobile phone), he waves them away in irritation. This is not because there has been yet another falling out. Rather, it is thought to be because Harry continually wants to discuss his ongoing battle for security, which he has been fighting in the courts for more than four years and believes Charles has the power to reinstate.

He is wholly mistaken in this belief – the Metropolitan Police security provided to him and Meghan while they were working royals is not in Charles’ hands to supply. A government body called the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) decides who is given this taxpayer-funded protection (such as Prime Ministers and Foreign Secretaries).