A royal expert has suggested that Prince Harry often appears ‘grumpy’ in photos due to his strained relationship with the press.

As the exiled Prince approaches his 40th birthday on Sunday (September 15), royal biographer Ingrid Seward is convinced that despite his stern appearance in pictures, Harry is content. She attributes his gruff demeanour to his uneasy rapport with the media.

Speaking to the Sun’s YouTube channel, Ingrid said: “I don’t think it’s very plausible (that he’ll get elements of his past life back). I really, truly believe Harry is happy.

“He doesn’t look happy in photographs because he hates being photographed, and of course we know he’s got a war with all of us media.

“So when he hears the click of the camera, he puts on that grumpy look whereas Meghan’s got the perma smile.

“I do think Harry is happy and I don’t think for one moment that he wants to come back here (to the UK). I think he wants to be able to visit but that depends on the security and that’s another story. He’s always been obsessed about the security.”

Harry will celebrate his 40th birthday in California, a stark contrast to his 30th birthday celebrations which were held at Clarence House surrounded by friends and family, less than two years before he met his wife Meghan Markle.

It’s expected that he will ring in his forties surrounded by new friends he has made since relocating to the USA four years ago, the Express reports.

Ingrid expressed that while there’s a ‘tinge of sadness’ none of his family will be present, it is ‘admirable’ that he’s forging his own path.

She stated: “He’ll be there with a crowd of people who he’s probably only known for four years maximum.

“So it’s very different. But I think that’s very admirable. He’s moved on with his life, he hasn’t just sat and moaned here.”

Ingrid also suggested that while Harry’s Invictus Games have been a resounding success, he needs another of his ventures to do likewise to justify his decision to step back as a working Royal.

She continued: “There’s a saying if you haven’t made it by the time you’re 40 you’re never going to make it, and of course that’s not true. I think that probably in the back of Harry’s mind, he thinks I’ve got to get on with it now.”

“He has the success of the Invictus Games but we can’t really name anything else. I think Harry needs to get a stronger foothold into that world that he says he wants to promote so badly.”

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