Prince Harry marks bitter birthday as he mourns his grandmother the Queen

Prince Harry marked his 38th birthday on Thursday, amid the official mourning period following his grandmother's death.

It echoes a similar birthday 25 years ago, when a young Harry turned 13 just days after the funeral of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.

But the Queen's former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, says this birthday would have been different for the Duke of Sussex, and not just due to the loss of Queen Elizabeth.

READ MORE: Prince William says Queen's coffin procession was 'very difficult' and reminded him of Diana's funeral

"Harry, in the old days, was a very happy-go-lucky young man," Arbiter tells 9Honey.

"He was full of fun, he was full of pranks, he enjoyed life. And since walking out of the royal family, he's become a very angry young man."

Prince Harry by all accounts had a close and special relationship with his beloved grandmother, though Arbiter believes that was impacted over the last two years after he stepped away from his role as a senior working royal in 2020.

"Yes, it did impact on the relationship," Arbiter tells 9Honey.

"I mean, you know, with all those pronouncements that came out in that Oprah interview and subsequent announcements, it's bound to have an effect not only on the Queen but also on the on the rest of the family. They said some pretty awful things.

"And while the Queen obviously still loved Harry, because he's her grandson, you can't forgive what was said and what was done and what was alleged."

Arbiter claims Her Majesty – whose mantra famously was "never complain, never explain" – had "been very disappointed" and "very angry" about the allegations made in the Oprah interview.

Looking forward, as his milestone 40th birthday approaches, the Duke of Sussex is continuing to build his life in the US – something King Charles III gave his blessing for during his first speech as monarch last week.

There has been speculation Harry could return to the royal fold in the coming years to support his father as the new King takes on more duties.

However, Arbiter doesn't see this happening.

"There's been a lot of murky water under the bridge and you don't turn the other cheek and say, 'Hey, welcome back'," he tells 9Honey.

"It's pretty difficult to say what is going to happen over the next few years but maybe, and I say maybe with a capital M, their [Harry and Meghan] attitude might have changed since the death of the Queen, since being over here," Arbiter says.

"We will probably know in the fullness of time and [depending on] what happens when they get back to the United States."