Prince Harry Says He Is 'Excited About 40' As He Reveals 'Fresh Perspective On Life'

Prince Harry has opened up about his "mission" in life as he prepares to celebrate his 40th birthday with a star-studded party organized by Meghan Markle.

The Duke of Sussex is set to inherit £8 million from the Queen Mother, with a trust fund established when he was 10.

After his birthday, Prince Harry will visit New York for the UN General Assembly and advance his philanthropic work.

Harry is turning 40 this weekend and preparing to celebrate with a star-studded party organized by his wife, Meghan. According to a report, the duke is also planning a short getaway to the mountains with close friends.

In the lead-up to his milestone birthday, Harry's spokesperson shared how his outlook on life has changed in a statement to BBC News.

"I was anxious about 30, I'm excited about 40," Harry said. "Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world."

The statement added: "Becoming a father of two incredibly kind and funny kids has given me a fresh perspective on life, as well as sharpening my focus in all my work. Being a dad is one of life's greatest joys and has only made me more driven and more committed to making this world a better place."

On his 40th birthday on September 15, Harry will reportedly inherit a sizable £8 million ($10.5 million) from his late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth. It is believed that she began setting up this trust fund for him when he was just ten years old.

At the time of her planning, the Queen Mother, then 94, allocated a tax-free £19 million ($25 million) for her great-grandchildren. The inheritance was designed to be distributed in two parts: the first when William and Harry turned 21 and the second on their 40th birthdays.

According to a former palace aide, this trust fund was established to allow the Queen Mother to pass a portion of her estate to her great-grandchildren in a tax-efficient manner.

They explained, "It was a way in which some of her estate could be ring-fenced for them."

Reports also suggested that Harry may have received a larger share of the inheritance compared to his older brother, William, who is now 42.

After his birthday celebrations, Harry will travel to New York City. This trip coincides with the UN General Assembly's High-level Week and Climate Week.

During his visit to the city, Harry will focus on advancing several of his patronages and charitable efforts. His representative shared that he will be actively involved with African Parks, The HALO Trust, The Diana Award, and Travalyst.

He will also continue furthering the work of The Archewell Foundation, the nonprofit he co-founded with Meghan.

The timing of Harry's visit coincides with his brother Prince William's annual Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, which is set to take place on September 24. It remains uncertain whether William, 42, will attend the summit in person this year, though he made an appearance at last year's event.

Prince Harry is also working on several entertainment projects as part of his and Meghan's deal with Netflix. Among these is an upcoming documentary scheduled to premiere in December, which will highlight his passion for polo.

Just days after discussing his upcoming 40th birthday, Harry and Meghan made a rare public appearance together at a star-studded event with Hollywood's elite. The couple attended the grand opening of a new bookstore, Godmothers, located near their home in Montecito.

Literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and beauty mogul Victoria Jackson launched the bookstore with support from Oprah Winfrey. Photos from the evening captured a beaming Harry and Meghan posing alongside the store's founders.

When asked for book recommendations, Harry reportedly joked and pointed to a copy of his memoir, "Spare."

Walsh, a close friend of the couple since their move to California four years ago, expressed her joy at their attendance.

"Seeing them be able to come here and be in a safe space... it's what we want it to be," she shared. She added, "Their support, and the light that it will shine on Godmothers, is pretty extraordinary."

Building on the success of their previous two quasi-royal tours, Harry and Meghan are reportedly considering plans for a third tour.

Though they have not officially confirmed any plans or potential destinations for a new tour, it's speculated that countries like Lesotho and Botswana are under consideration.

Harry last visited these countries in 2019 and is rumored to be considering a return, as they are closely linked to his charity, Sentebale. The charity's first initiative was established in Lesotho in 2006 in collaboration with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, while the Botswana project was launched in 2016.

An insider told Hello! that the duke is well-positioned to continue participating in such tours alongside his wife, as he is accustomed to them.

They said, "That's his world, that's what he's used to, and that's what he knows. He can still add value."