Prince Harry 'called off milestone birthday party over Kate Middleton issue'

Prince Harry will be celebrating his 42nd birthday on Tuesday, undoubtedly surrounded by his wife Meghan Markle and their children Archie and Lilibet, just weeks after moving back to the UK after six years in California.

While the Duke of Sussex may well be gearing up for a lavish birthday celebration, 12 years ago his party plans were brought to a sudden halt — and the Princess of Wales was at the centre of it.

When Harry marked his 30th birthday, Meghan Markle had yet to enter his life, and the Duke had been plotting a spectacular bash with the assistance of his brother Prince William and his wife.

It was reported that in the run-up to his 30th birthday in 2014, William and Kate had set about organising an intimate family birthday dinner for Harry, with the guest list including royal cousins Princesses Beatrice, Eugenie and Zara Tindall, as well as close friends, at Kensington Palace.

Yet it appears Harry pulled the plug on the celebration at the eleventh hour. Shortly before his birthday, the now-Princess of Wales began suffering from severe morning sickness while expecting Princess Charlotte.

At the time, Kensington Palace officials confirmed that Kate had been struck down with morning sickness following her second pregnancy . Out of consideration for his sister-in-law's condition, Harry took the decision to cancel the party altogether.

A source told the Mirror at the time: "Harry was in no doubt that the party should be postponed, even though 30 is an important milestone. Kate had been very involved in organising Harry's party, and once she fell ill he felt it wrong to let the event go ahead."

Vanity Fair later claimed that the party did go ahead at a later date - but it was held at Clarence House rather than Kensington Palace, with King Charles even sending champagne for guests to enjoy.

Prince Harry and Princess Kate's relationship is a far cry from where it stood in 2014, with the in-laws reportedly not speaking in several years. After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved back to Britain at the end of August, friends of the couple told the Mirror while they "cannot forgive" the Sussexes for their hurtful accusations against the Firm, they are determined to "look forward to the future".

Despite the "considerable noise" and "suspicions" over the Sussexes' return, those close to the Prince and Princess of Wales maintain the couple remain focused on their own lives. One source said: "Obviously the Sussexes' return will make inevitable headlines for a few days, but it has no bearing on the prince and princess' life moving forward.

"If anything, events that have affected them over the past couple of years have made them even more determined to concentrate on what is important to them, their family, their public roles and the ability to provide generational change for good with their public roles, and look forward to the future."

Another source close to the Waleses said: “What Harry and Meghan choose to do is up to them. As far as William and Catherine are concerned they have left that period of their lives behind many years ago."