Prince Harry slammed for returning to US a day before Queen’s birthday

Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her 95th birthday quietly today, just days after her late husband Prince Philip's funeral.

Throughout the day, many people have paid their respects to the Queen, while some have commented on Prince Harry's return to the United States.

Some people, however, have expressed displeasure that the Queen's grandson left the UK the day before her birthday.

Broadcaster Dan Wootton was one of the most vocal celebrities who spoke out about Prince Harry's US return.

In a post linking to the news that Prince Harry had returned to California, he described it as “sad.”

“How sad if Prince Harry didn't stay in the UK to mark the Queen's 95th birthday today,” Dan tweeted to his 372,000 followers.

Prince Harry has returned to California, skipping the queen's first birthday as a widow. This comes amid mounting reports that his visit to the United Kingdom did not greatly strengthen “strained” ties with his father and brother.

According to dailymail.com, Harry landed at LAX airport on Tuesday afternoon and returned to his home in Montecito by 4 p.m. local time.

He arrived in Los Angeles on an American Airlines flight from London Heathrow, according to reports. A chauffeur-driven MPV was seen departing LAX's private terminal on its way to the couple's Montecito mansion.

Britain's longest reigning monarch, who was born in London on April 21, 1926, normally marks her birthday private, but the day is commemorated publicly with gun salutes in Hyde Park, Windsor Great Park, and the Tower of London.

The custom was missing from last year's scaled-back celebration, and it will be again this year on Wednesday — not just because of the pandemic, but also because the Royal Family is in mourning until Friday.

The Queen thanked the public for their well wishes and said she was “deeply touched” by the tributes that have poured in for the Duke of Edinburgh in a statement issued on her birthday.

“I have, on the occasion of my 95th birthday today, received many messages of good wishes, which I very much appreciate

“While as a family we are in a period of great sadness, it has been a comfort to us all to see and to hear the tributes paid to my husband, from those within the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world.

“My family and I would like to thank you all for the support and kindness shown to us in recent days. We have been deeply touched, and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life.”

The royal family shared an official portrait of the Queen on Twitter, along with the caption: “HM was born on 21 April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in London, the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York.”

Today is The Queen's 95th birthday.

HM was born on 21 April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in London, the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York.

This year The Queen remains at Windsor Castle during a period of Royal Mourning following the death of The Duke of Edinburgh. pic.twitter.com/kOeH399Ndp

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2021

The queen will spend the day at Windsor Castle during a period of royal mourning, the palace said.

“Her birthday every year now will be tinged with that sadness,” said Victoria Howard, editor of The Crown Chronicles, a royal news blog.

“So many people have had to have lockdown birthdays and funerals, that in a strange way it's almost comforting that the royal family is going through it as well.”