Prince Harry biography, wife, daughter, net worth, kids, age, height 2024

Biography of Prince Harry

Prince Harry (Henry Charles Albert David) is the younger son of the King of the United Kingdom, Charles III, and Princess Diana, as well as the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Philip. He is the second member of the royal family, after Prince Edward, to voluntarily renounce his claim to the throne, although he is fifth in line to the throne.

In 2020, he moved to the United States with his wife, actress Meghan Markle, and their children. In 2023, Prince Harry once again shocked his fellow Britons by releasing a controversial autobiography titled "Spare."

Childhood, Youth, Family

Harry was born in the fall of 1984 at St. Mary's Hospital in central London. He became the second son in the family of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, where his elder brother William, two years older, was already growing up. The Archbishop of Canterbury himself conducted Prince Harry's christening ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor.

In his early years, Harry attended Mrs. Mynors' private nursery, chosen by their mother, who had previously worked as a nursery teacher. Her friend, Simone Simmons, who often interacted with the little ones, recalled the following:

Harry was always more sensitive than William when they were little. William loved being the center of attention, but Harry was quieter. He often took a day off from school because he wasn't feeling well. He used to have more coughs and colds than William, but nothing serious, and I think most of the time he just wanted to stay home with his mom. He liked having her all to himself and not competing with William.

Harry realized early on that relatives, especially the Queen, treated him and his older brother differently. For instance, William could visit their grandmother alone, leaving Harry to play in the nursery. The boy tried not to show he was upset, but Diana understood his feelings and tried to spend as much time as possible with her younger son, calling him "my little Spencer." Harry reminded her of her own sister Sarah in childhood, with the same red hair and close-set eyes.

His father treated him quite differently, as Harry later wrote in his book:

Pa loved telling stories that ended with a philosophical twist: 'Who knows if I'm really the Prince of Wales? Who knows if I'm even your real father?' He laughed and laughed, though it was a surprisingly unfunny joke, considering there was a rumor at the time that my real father was my mom's former lover, Major James Hewitt. One reason for this rumor was the major's fiery red hair.

The boy was just twelve when his beloved mother died in a car accident. When his father told him about the tragedy, he didn't even hug him. At that time, Harry was already attending Ludgrove School in Berkshire.

Prince Harry at Princess Diana's funeral

His character began to deteriorate due to grief, and his academic performance declined. Attending Eton College only worsened his behavior, which was inappropriate for a member of the royal family. Harry started drinking and smoking marijuana. He admitted to trying cocaine and hallucinogenic mushrooms:

It's not to say it was really fun. There was no happiness or sense of elation. But I felt a little different. That was the point. To feel. To be different.

In 2003, he graduated from Eton and went traveling: first to Australia, then to Argentina, and later to Africa, where he made the documentary "The Forgotten Kingdom," dedicated to the issues of AIDS and orphans in Lesotho.

Military Career, Duties of the Prince

In 2005, Prince Harry became a cadet at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. At that time, by his own admission, he made "one of the biggest mistakes of his life." The Duke of Sussex attended a costume party dressed in an outfit resembling a Nazi uniform. The next day, tabloids, including the scandalous The Sun, featured the headline "Harry The Nazi," with a front-page photo of Harry: flushed from alcohol, a cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other, wearing a red armband with a large swastika.

Scandalous photo of Prince Harry on the cover of The Sun

The public outrage was immense: Harry's actions offended World War II veterans and victims of Nazism. To make amends, the prince met with Holocaust survivors and issued a formal apology. Shortly after graduating from the academy, the prince received the honorary title of Commander of the British Navy, completed special training, and was deployed to Afghanistan's Helmand Province as an air controller.

Later, he was promoted to Captain in the Royal Air Force, completed a "hostage survival course," became a co-pilot of an Apache attack helicopter, and returned to Afghanistan, stationed at the British Camp Bastion. In the summer of 2013, he became an Apache commander. In his book, Harry stated he could accurately count the enemies killed in Afghanistan:

It seemed important not to fear that number. So, my number is 25. It doesn't fill me with satisfaction, but it doesn't embarrass me either. I viewed soldiers as chess pieces removed from the board because you can't kill people if you see them as people.

He concluded his service as a pilot in 2014, after which he became a staff officer and organized military ceremonies. He initiated the international "Invictus Games" - competitions for former military personnel who became disabled during service. Alongside this, the Duke of Sussex fulfilled duties entrusted to him by the Queen: he was the official ambassador of the English team at the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, represented Queen Elizabeth II at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and made overseas visits on her behalf. In 2017, he took on the role of Captain General of the Royal Marines, succeeding his grandfather Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. A year later, Harry became a Commonwealth Youth Ambassador and an aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth II. Polls showed Prince Harry had become the most popular member of the royal family, increasingly reminding Britons of his mother, Diana.

Prince Harry's Personal Life

The private lives of Princess Diana's heirs fascinated the public just as much as her own life did. While William hardly gave any reason for gossip and rumors, Harry's romantic escapades were always a topic of discussion in the media.

The prince first fell in love in his youth; his chosen one was Chelsy Davy. She was a university student, and her father was a wealthy farmer from Zimbabwe. Their relationship lasted five years, and she was even invited to Harry's older brother's wedding. However, the free-spirited Chelsy stated that she couldn't live by the strict rules of the royal family. The couple broke up and got back together several times before finally parting ways in 2009.

Harry found comfort in short-lived flings. Among the prince's girlfriends was the dancer and model with aristocratic roots, Cressida Bonas, whom he met through Princess Eugenie of York. Their relationship lasted about a year, after which they decided to remain friends. Cressida was even among the guests at her former lover's wedding.

For a time, Harry also dated actress Emma Watson, but the romance was fleeting.

Relationship with Meghan Markle

Everything changed when Harry met the American actress Meghan Markle. In his book, the young man mentioned that his brother William and his wife Kate were big fans, practically fans, of the TV series "Suits," where Markle acted before meeting Harry. When he told them about his promising relationship with the actress from this series, their reaction was as follows:

Their mouths dropped open when I told them who my new girlfriend was. They turned to each other. Then Willy looked at me and said, 'No way!' However, according to Harry, this didn't stop William from later warning his brother to 'slow down' with Meghan. 'After all, she's an American actress, Harold,' he said. 'And anything can happen.'

But the elder brother's opinion didn't influence the younger one. A year after meeting, Meghan and Harry got engaged. For the whole year, tabloids worldwide followed the couple's relationship, speculated, and talked about how the royal family, especially the Queen, disapproved of the Duke of Sussex's choice. Nonetheless, on May 9, 2018, the whole world watched with interest the wedding of Lady Diana's younger son and the American actress, whom Prince Charles himself walked down the aisle.

The Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Exactly one year later, on May 6, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their first child, whose full name is Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Meghan's first public appearance after giving birth was on Queen Elizabeth II's birthday. Attentive paparazzi immediately noted that not everything was well in her family: Harry publicly made several sharp remarks to his wife, who, standing on the balcony surrounded by the royal family, turned her back to the public. Markle barely managed not to burst into tears.

Perhaps this episode, widely circulated by the media worldwide, prompted the family to file a lawsuit against several publications, especially those that harassed Harry and Meghan and commented on their every public move.

In October 2019, the documentary "Harry & Meghan: An African Journey" aired on British TV screens, in which the couple, among other things, complained about media pressure.

In 2021, the couple announced they were expecting their second child. On June 4, they had a daughter, whose full name is Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

Lilibet – Daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Abdication and Move to the USA

Almost immediately after the wedding, disagreements began between the royal family and Prince Harry's young family, mostly due to the failure to adhere to the strict system of royal etiquette.

For example, Meghan and Harry broke the long-standing tradition of celebrating Christmas with the Queen. But the real shock came with their social media announcement at the beginning of 2020, in which they declared their intention to "step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen." The couple also announced plans to live alternately in both the UK and the US. The internet quickly dubbed the couple's defiance as "Megxit," akin to Brexit.

Prince Harry & Meghan Markle To ‘Step Back As Senior Members Of The Royal Family’

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles stripped the couple of many privileges. Harry lost his military titles and funding for his expenses. He was also stripped of the title "His Royal Highness." The Queen's decision allowed the couple to return to their duties as royal family members at any time, but Meghan had already relocated to Canada with their children, where Harry joined them at the end of January. Later, they settled in the American city of Santa Barbara and actively pursued financial independence for their family.

Their joint interview with the popular host Oprah Winfrey became the most expensive and simultaneously the most resonant and scandalous show in history. Both stated that they found no understanding within the royal family, and Meghan was harassed to the point where she "just didn't want to live anymore," becoming the target of a "real smear campaign" by the British media.

Prince Harry, Meghan reveal struggles behind royal rift in Oprah interview

The Prince's wife accused the royal family of "racist conversations" regarding her firstborn, and Harry noted that it was time to break the vicious genetic cycle of pain and suffering, referring to his father's treatment of him.

Prince Harry at Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral

Only two years after the interview that shocked the royal family and British citizens did Harry and Meghan see Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles. They visited the royal residence in Windsor on their way to The Hague for the Invictus Games. It was the last meeting between the grandmother and grandson: Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022. Harry did not manage to say goodbye and blamed his brother and father for it.

“I asked my brother, I said 'what are your plans, how are you and Kate getting up there?'And then a couple of hours later all of the family members that live in the Windsor and Ascot area were jumping on a plane together, a plane with 12, 14 maybe 16 seats. I was not invited.

In December of the same year, Netflix released a documentary series titled "Harry & Meghan," which the global media immediately labeled as scandalous and shocking. The film, starting with recollections of their meeting and the great love that blossomed between them, once again touched on themes of harassment, racism, and aggression towards the couple. King Charles III reacted harshly, threatening to sever ties with his younger son and his wife completely.

The beginning of 2023 further distanced Prince Harry from the royal family. The reason was his autobiography titled "Spare," which caused an unprecedented stir in both the UK and worldwide.

Harry emphasized that the book's release was "driven by care for family members" and stated that he had twice as much material, which he didn't publish to avoid putting his father and brother in a difficult position. In response to accusations of undermining the monarchy, the Prince stated:

This is not about trying to destroy the monarchy – it's about trying to save them from themselves… When you're attempting to change the entire institution [of the monarchy] and, crucially, the media landscape, it's no trivial task. The scale of this challenge is enormous, and I must be able to protect myself – both mentally and emotionally – during this process.

On the first day of sales, the Duke of Sussex's autobiography sold nearly one and a half million copies. Harry's revelations about conflicts within the royal family, his confessions, and allegations sparked outrage in Britain and generated an incredible amount of opinions and feedback worldwide.

Prince Harry Now

In September 2024, Prince Harry celebrated his 40th birthday. He doesn’t openly discuss how the son of the King of Britain lives after a series of scandals, but occasionally, insiders close to the couple share information in the British press. The information is often contradictory. For example, around the same time, the Daily Mail reported (again citing sources) that Harry is currently "enjoying life with his family after many years of self-reflection" and that he is "acting like a hurt child because the situation got out of control and everything didn't go as he wanted."

What is certain is that Prince Harry is very fond of his children. Photos of Archie and Lilibet rarely appear in the press or online—the parents protect them from the public eye. Although Meghan wanted to gradually introduce them to public appearances, her husband, who remembers his own childhood traumas all too well, was against it.

Prince Harry played a major role in the polo doc project

In the fall of 2024, Meghan and Harry announced their new project on Netflix—a documentary series called "Polo." The synopsis stated that the project will tell about elite world players and offer an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the dynamic world of the sport. However, the former royal couple once again faced disapproval from the British public: the project's announcement came just hours after Kate Middleton's statement about completing her chemotherapy course.

Interesting Facts

As a child, Prince Harry's happiest days were when his mother took him and his brother to Smiths on Kensington High Street, near the palace. Members of the royal family weren't supposed to carry cash, but it was important to Lady Diana that her sons understood the value of money. Their outing began at the store, where little Harry eagerly bought comics, then the trio went to the Odeon cinema, and afterward, the boys sat in McDonald's with happy faces, enjoying fast food and playing with the plastic toys that came with such deliciously appealing meals.

In his youth, Harry committed many indiscretions that repeatedly put the royal family in the crosshairs of the media and public. Once, while vacationing in Las Vegas, international news agencies published scandalous photos of the young man posing completely naked, surrounded by equally provocatively naked women.

It was long known about the complicated relationship between the older and younger brothers, but Harry described another unflattering episode in his autobiography. Once, during an argument, William called Meghan Markle "difficult, rude, and abrasive." After this, Harry poured a glass of water for his angry brother, saying he wasn't going to discuss his wife or talk to William in that tone. Then, according to Harry, the following happened:

He put down the glass, then approached me. It all happened very quickly. William grabbed me by the collar, tore my necklace, and knocked me to the floor. I fell onto a dog bowl, which cracked under my back, and the shards dug into me. I lay there for a while, stunned, then got up and told him to get out.

Important Life Events

1998: Enrolled at Eton College.
2003: Traveled through Australia, Argentina, and Africa after graduating from college. Made a documentary film.
2005: Enrolled at the Royal Military Academy.
2006: Received the honorary title of Commander-in-Chief of the British Navy and served in the Royal Horse Guards.
2007: Went to the combat zone in Afghanistan.
2008: Awarded the medal "For Participation in the Afghanistan Military Campaign".
2011: Became a captain in the British Air Force.
2012: Earned a pilot's diploma for the Apache attack helicopter. Returned to Afghanistan.
2013: Became a commander of the Apache attack helicopter.
2014: Transitioned to staff work. Initiated the Invictus Games.
2015: Became a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. Completed military service.
2017: Awarded the Spanish title of Commander First Class of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. Achieved the rank of Captain General of the Royal Marines.
2018: Married American actress Meghan Markle. Earned the rank of Major in the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom.
2019: Son Archie Harrison was born.
2020: Stepped down from senior royal family duties with his wife.
2021: Gave a high-profile interview to TV host Oprah Winfrey with his wife. Daughter Lilibeth was born.
2022: Featured in the documentary series "Harry & Meghan".
2023: Released the autobiography "Spare".

Prince Harry: latest news and articles

Rosa Stewart

It is very incomprehensible to me that Harry neglected traditions and married an American... The Queen hardly approves of his chosen one. But Kate Middleton is a worthy wife!

2021-05-19 08:19:03
Mason Cole Long

I respect him for creating charitable foundations and helping those in need.

2021-04-22 19:09:40
Judy Norman

An unrealistically handsome prince, intelligent, educated, charismatic! Would be a worthy heir.

2021-04-17 11:32:31
Richard Arnold

I would like Harry to become the heir to the throne. But he went to America or Canada...

2021-03-26 14:30:03
Leslie Hayes

Prince Harry has an interesting fate, he found such a snake as his wife, of course.

2021-03-03 17:55:11