Prince Harry’s life in photos: from a young boy to family life with Meghan Markle

Prince Harry is the youngest son of King Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

Born Henry Charles Albert David on 15 September 1984, he is currently fifth in line to the throne after his older brother, Prince William, and his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Harry’s life has been documented from the moment he made his debut on the steps of the Lindo Wing. From his first day at school and boarding at Eton College to passing his military training at Sandhurst and meeting the love of his life, Meghan Markle.

The couple were made the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their wedding day in 2018. Less than a year later, they became parents to baby Archie.

Their decision to step back as senior royals shocked the world in 2020, but the Sussexes are now settled in Montecito, California with their children, Archie and Lilibet.

Take a look at Harry’s life in photos, including all the major milestones…

Prince Harry is born

Charles and Diana welcomed their second son, Prince Harry, at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital Paddington on 15 September 1982.

Early years

William and Harry grew up at Kensington Palace in London, with the family residing in Apartment 8 and 9. How sweet is this snap of Charles and his young sons?

Harry gazes at the camera as he rides his rocking horse in his playroom at Kensington Palace in 1985.

The family split their time between London and Charles’ Gloucestershire home, Highgrove, which afforded them more privacy. Diana is seen carrying a young Harry on her shoulders in the gardens in 1986

First day at nursery

Little Harry looked enthusiastic on his first day at Mrs Mynors nursery school in London.

One of Harry’s earliest official overseas visits was to Canada in 1991. Diana took her sons William and Harry on a boat trip to see Niagara Falls.

Charles and Diana had separated by 1992 and both William and Harry were both boarding at Ludgrove School in Berkshire by 1994.

This photo was taken during the royal family’s annual summer break at Balmoral in August 1997 – just weeks before Diana’s tragic death in a car crash in Paris.

Charles and Diana had separated by 1992 and both William and Harry were both boarding at Ludgrove School in Berkshire by 1994.

Harry followed in his big brother’s footsteps and passed the entrance exams for Eton College, enrolling in 1998.

In his memoir, Spare, Harry says he threw himself into sport at the Windsor-based private school.

“Sport, I decided, would be my thing at Eton,” he wrote. “Sporty boys were separated into two groups: dry bobs and wet bobs. Dry bobs played cricket, football, rugby, or polo. Wet bobs rowed, sailed, or swam.”

He added: “I played every dry sport, though rugby captured my heart. Beautiful game, plus a good excuse to run into stuff very hard. Rugby let me indulge my rage. I simply didn’t feel pain the way other boys did, which made me scary on a pitch.”

After leaving Eton College, Harry decided to take a gap year, where he spent time in Australia and Lesotho in southern Africa, an experience which later inspired him to set up his own charity, Sentebale.

Charles, William and Harry often enjoyed winter ski trips together in Klosters, Switzerland when they were growing up and as young adults.

Harry began his training as an Officer Cadet in 2005. Upon completion in April 2006, Harry was commissioned as a Army officer in the Blues and Royals. His proud grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, attended his passing-out parade.

Harry began dating American actress Meghan Markle in summer 2016 after being introduced by a mutual friend. They made their public debut together at the Invictus Games Toronto 2017.

Harry and Meghan’s engagement was announced on 27 November 2017. The Prince proposed in the garden of his Kensington Palace home, Nottingham Cottage, with a ring consisting of a large central diamond from Botswana with two smaller diamonds from his mother Diana’s jewellery collection.

Harry and Meghan tied the knot on 19 May 2018 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. The late Queen made the couple the Duke and Duchess of Sussex upon their marriage.

On 6 May 2019, Harry and Meghan welcomed their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor at the Portland Hospital in London, with the proud new father giving a TV interview hours after the birth. The tot was introduced to the world at Windsor Castle two days later. Since their grandfather King Charles’ accession to the throne, Archie and his sister Lilibet, are known as Prince and Princess of Sussex.