Prince Harry

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is a member of the British royal family and the younger son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. A former British Army officer, he is known for his military service, his founding of the Invictus Games for wounded service personnel, and, in recent years, his decision to step back from official royal duties and his public reflections on royal life.

Early life

Harry was born in London and grew up under intense public attention as a senior member of the royal family. The death of his mother, Diana, when he was a child was a defining and widely publicized event in his life, one he has spoken about extensively as an adult. He was educated at Eton College before pursuing a military career.

Career

Harry trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and served as an officer in the British Army for around a decade. He undertook operational tours in Afghanistan, including service as an Apache helicopter pilot, and his military experience became central to his public identity. Drawing on that background, he founded the Invictus Games, an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, which has become his most prominent ongoing initiative.

As a working royal, Harry carried out official engagements and patronages and was widely regarded as one of the more popular members of the family. In 2018 he married the American actress Meghan Markle, and the couple were created Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They have two children, Archie and Lilibet.

Recent work

In 2020, Harry and Meghan announced that they would step back from their roles as senior working royals, subsequently relocating to the United States. The decision, and the family tensions surrounding it, drew enormous global coverage. Since then Harry has pursued projects in media and philanthropy, including a high-profile television interview, a documentary series and other ventures. In 2023 he published a memoir, Spare, which became a major bestseller and offered a candid account of his life, his relationships within the family and his grief. He has also been involved in litigation against British tabloid newspapers and has spoken publicly about mental health and the effects of media intrusion. Beyond the Invictus Games, his charitable work has included Sentebale, an organization he co-founded to support children affected by HIV and AIDS in southern Africa, and the Heads Together campaign promoting mental health awareness. His full given name is Henry Charles Albert David, with Harry used as the familiar form throughout his public life.