Before Prince Harry’s birth, Princess Diana carried a huge secret she chose not to share with Prince Charles. Reportedly, she believed he might not have welcomed the truth she had discovered months before their second son’s arrival.

Prince Harry was born on September 15, 1984. Diana and Charles had previously welcomed their first son, Prince William, on June 21, 1982.

PEOPLE Magazine republished an excerpt from Andrew Morton’s Diana: Her True Story in 2019. It revealed the closely guarded secret the Princess of Wales kept about Harry from her husband.

“I knew Harry was going to be a boy because I saw on the scan,” said a passage from the book, written with Diana’s secret collaboration. “Charles always wanted a girl.”

She continued, “He wanted two children, and he wanted a girl. I knew Harry was a boy, and I didn’t tell him.”

Princess Diana claimed Prince Charles was upset Prince Harry wasn’t a girl

John Shelley Collection/Avalon/Getty Images

After Prince Harry’s birth, Princess Diana recalled Prince Charles’ reaction. He appeared to be displeased their newborn wasn’t a girl.

“First comment was: ‘Oh God, it’s a boy.’ Second comment: ‘And he’s even got red hair,’” Diana said of his reaction as printed in Andrew Morton’s book.

Former royal butler Paul Burrell shared additional insight into Charles’ reaction to Harry’s birth in his book The Royal Insider, according to SheKnows. He claimed that Charles told Diana in the hospital, “Well, at least I’ve got my heir and spare now, and I can return to Camilla (Parker Bowles).”

How will Prince Harry spend his birthday?

Prince Harry is in the United States after a trip to the United Kingdom and Ukraine, reported The New York Post. He met with officials as part of his Invictus Games and with his father, King Charles, in an attempt to repair their estrangement.

The Post reports that Harry and Charles united for the first time in almost two years over tea. The outlet claims the meeting lasted less than one hour.

After the trip, The Guardian quoted Harry as saying that “the focus really has to be on my dad.” He added that he would like to spend more time in his home country with his children, “This week has definitely brought that closer.”

Prince Harry will reportedly spend his birthday with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, at their California home.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 15, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.