Prince Harry’s closest circle could be set to join him in a luxury mountain retreat to celebrate his 40th Birthday.
The Duke of Sussex plans to celebrate his 40th birthday on Sunday with his family in California, before heading off on a break with a group of his closest friends.
On the year he turned 30 in 2014, the year after returning from his second tour with the British army in Afghanistan, he formed the Invictus Games.
The Duke of Sussex is expected to go to a mountain retreat in California with his ‘closest mates’ – some of whom may fly over from the UK.
The Duke of Sussex has also struck up a bond with his neighbours Orlando Bloom and singer Katy Perry who live ‘just down the road’
PA
One of those almost certain to be in attendance is best friend Nacho Figueras – a man he considers to be like a brother. Their friendship goes back almost two decades and have played polo alongside one another in various matches over the years.
The 46-year-old has become one of Harry and wife Meghan Markle’s most vocal supporters, praising them in magazine interviews and during TV appearances.
He told Town and Country magazine in 2019: “What I like the most about [Harry] is how real he is and how serious he is about improving life for kids that have not had the blessings that we’ve had.”
Nacho also revealed how the prince confided in him after sharing a first date with Meghan. He described how him and his wife, Delfina Blaquier, went for dinner with Harry shortly after the prince met his future wife in 2017.
He said: “‘He looked at us and said ‘guys, I met a girl, we’ve just met but I think this might be the one.’ You could tell right away that those eyes were those of someone who’d fallen in love.”
LATEST ROYAL NEWS
Also expected to be in attendance is comedy star James Corden
PA
Also expected to be in attendance is comedy star James Corden. The 46-year-old is currently is believed to be particularly close to Harry, who appeared on The Late Late Show during his stint presenting the show, where they went on a bus tour and went to Meghan’s house.
Corden, who is currently filming the finale of hit sitcom Gavin and Stacey, said he finds it hard to be ‘judgemental’ of the pair, seemingly referring to their decision to step down as senior members of the royal family and move to the US.
The Duke of Sussex has also struck up a bond with his neighbours Orlando Bloom and singer Katy Perry who live ‘just down the road’ from the couple’s £11million mansion in Montecito, California.
Prince Harry has described how the Pirates of the Caribbean star tipped him off about a photographer and that the pair ‘keep in touch’ over text.
Another who could be in attendance is Coldplay frontman Chris Martin
PA
=
Tom Inskip was with him at a party in 2010 when Harry was allegedly seen inhaling ‘hippy crack’
PA
Another who could be in attendance is Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The pair have reportedly been friends for over a decade with the musician even being name dropped in the royal’s infamous 2023 memoir, Spare.
Martin, alongside his band, are set to release their 10th studio album, Moon Music, next month following a fifth headlining slot at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
Harry’s Eton wingman Tom ‘Skippy’ Inskip is one of Prince Harry’s oldest friends, having met the Duke of Sussex when they were classmates at Eton College. Tom, who works as the president for Afiniti, is based in London too, but didn’t put Harry up for the night.
He was with him at a party in 2010 when Harry was allegedly seen inhaling ‘hippy crack’ — also known as nitrous oxide or laughing gas — a recreational drug which, although perfectly legal, has been associated with a number of fatalities.
And he was with Harry during his infamous trip to Las Vegas in 2012, when the prince was photographed naked during a game of ‘strip billiards’.