Meghan Markle gave Prince Harry an emotional birthday tribute this week, but the song she selected for the special video appears to carry a much deeper family connection.
To celebrate Harry’s 42nd birthday, the Duchess of Sussex shared a collection of personal family photographs and moments featuring her husband and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The intimate tribute was set to an acoustic version of “Simply the Best,” performed by The Hound + The Fox.
The choice of song quickly attracted attention because the original Tina Turner version has a special connection to Harry’s childhood and his late mother, Princess Diana.
Prince William previously spoke about the song during an appearance on Apple Fitness+’s “Time to Walk” in 2021. He recalled how Diana would play Tina Turner’s “The Best” while driving him and Harry to boarding school.
William remembered those car journeys as important family moments, describing how the brothers would sing along with their mother before arriving at school. He also said that hearing the song today brings back memories of Diana.
That childhood memory gives Meghan’s choice a particularly sentimental dimension. Rather than selecting a random birthday track, the song is linked to a period when Harry was growing up with his mother and brother.
Meghan’s birthday video itself focused heavily on Harry’s role as a husband and father. The photographs showed him spending time with Archie and Lilibet, enjoying outdoor activities and sharing affectionate family moments.
The tribute included images of Harry skiing with Lilibet, spending time with Archie, walking with his daughter and enjoying moments with Meghan. The video ended with footage of Harry driving along a country road.
The combination of the family photographs and the song therefore created two different layers to the birthday message. On the surface, it celebrated Harry as Meghan’s husband and the father of their children. At the same time, the music connected the tribute with memories of Diana and Harry’s childhood.
Meghan captioned the birthday post with a loving message for her husband, adding to the personal nature of the tribute. The timing also comes as Harry and Meghan have recently returned to the UK with their children after years of living in California.
The song choice is especially notable because Diana’s connection with “The Best” has already been publicly documented by William. His recollection provides the clearest explanation for why the song can evoke memories of their mother for the brothers.
For Harry, the birthday tribute consequently brought together his present family life and a familiar piece of his childhood. Meghan’s selection of the song has given the otherwise private birthday message an additional emotional connection to Diana.
Key Takeaways
- Meghan Markle celebrated Prince Harry’s 42nd birthday with a personal video tribute.
- The video featured family photographs of Harry with Meghan, Archie and Lilibet.
- Meghan selected an acoustic cover of “Simply the Best” for the tribute.
- Tina Turner’s original version has a documented connection to Harry’s childhood.
- Prince William previously recalled Diana playing the song during family car journeys.
- William said the song still brings back memories of his mother.
- The song therefore adds a sentimental connection to Diana to Meghan’s birthday tribute.
