4 Things Prince Harry Can Finally Do as He Celebrates His Birthday in the UK

Prince Harry is back in the UK, a place he left six years ago for a quieter life. But now he will be ringing in his 42nd birthday in his homeland. UK has remained closely tied to some of his happiest childhood memories, and now that his children are older, he gets to finally share some of his old birthday traditions with them. Previously, in his 647-word essay, titled The Bond, The Banter, The Bravery: What It Means to Be British, Harry had shared, “Though currently, I may live in the United States, Britain is, and always will be, the country I proudly served and fought for,” and now, finally, he is back to the place he calls home.

Meghan Markle recently offered a glimpse of the family's love for outdoor activities, including Harry fishing and riding ATVs with their children. Harry gets to recreate some of his childhood memories with his kids, and this might be his version of a perfect birthday. Harry once said in an interview with Town & Country, "My brother and I were brought up outdoors. We appreciate the countryside; we appreciate nature and everything about it."

Harry's birthday could give him a chance to spend time with members of his extended family, including the Spencer side. The Duke, for the past few years, has celebrated the day with Markle and his kids, and while even this year he might be keeping things low-key, many of his extended family members could be around. The Duke has always remained close to his late mother Princess Diana's family, and even stayed at Charles Spencer's estate during his July visit. After years of living thousands of miles away in California, having family nearby is something Harry can now enjoy as he turns 42.

After spending years abroad, his birthday might be the perfect occasion for Harry to make time for some of the friends he has known for years. Being back in Britain means the Duke can meet up with his old pals, which include Jack Mann, Charlie Gilkes, JJ Chalmers, David Wiseman, James Blunt, and Guy Pelly, among many others. Whether it is a private dinner, a casual drink, or simply catching up, his birthday gives him another excuse to reconnect with people who have known him for years.

Harry, for his birthday this year, can also do something incredibly ordinary, like head to a British pub, order some fish and chips, and simply enjoy being back home. In his essay, he talked in depth about his love for the UK's pub culture, and this will be the perfect opportunity for him to indulge. "The banter of the mess, the clubhouse, the pub, the stands, ridiculous as it sounds, these are the things that make us British," he shared. Similarly, in his memoir Spare, Harry had penned, "Willy and I would start a typical weekend evening by sneaking into a nearby pub where we'd have a few drinks, a few pints of Snake Bite, then round up a group of mates and bring them back to Club H.”