Prince Harry, born September 15, 1984, is the Duke of Sussex and the younger son of King Charles III and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. A former British Army officer with two tours of duty in Afghanistan, he founded the Invictus Games for wounded veterans in 2014, stepped back from senior royal duties in 2020, and built an independent life in media and philanthropy with his wife, Meghan Markle. This Prince Harry biography covers his early life, military career, royal work, and life after the palace.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Henry Charles Albert David
- Born: September 15, 1984, St Mary’s Hospital, London, England
- Nationality: British
- Title: Duke of Sussex
- Parents: King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales
- Occupation: Philanthropist, author, former British Army officer
- Known for: Invictus Games, military service, bestselling memoir Spare
- Spouse: Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex (married 2018)
- Children: Prince Archie of Sussex, Princess Lilibet of Sussex
Early Life and Background
Harry was born at 4:20 pm on September 15, 1984, at St Mary’s Hospital in London, and christened Henry Charles Albert David at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, that December. He and his older brother, William, were raised at Kensington Palace and Highgrove House, though their mother, Diana, worked to give them experiences beyond palace life — from amusement parks to visits to AIDS clinics and homeless shelters.
Harry’s parents separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. On August 31, 1997, Diana died in a car crash in Paris; Harry was 12 and walked behind her coffin at her funeral. He was educated at Wetherby School, Ludgrove School, and Eton College, leaving in 2003, then spent a gap year working on a sheep farm in Australia and in an orphanage in Lesotho, where he later founded the charity Sentebale.
Military Career
Harry entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2005 and served in the British Army from 2005 to 2015 with the Blues and Royals. He deployed twice on active duty in Afghanistan: ten weeks in Helmand Province in 2007–2008 as a forward air controller, and twenty weeks in 2012–2013 as an Apache helicopter co-pilot and gunner with the Army Air Corps. His first tour was cut short after the media broke an embargo on his location; the second ran its full course. He has said military service gave him a sense of purpose he spent years trying to recapture afterward.
Royal Duties and the Invictus Games
Inspired by the U.S. Warrior Games in 2013, Harry founded the Invictus Games in 2014 — an international sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women — and remains its patron. In 2016 he co-founded the Heads Together mental-health campaign with William and Catherine, publicly discussing his own grief. He was created Duke of Sussex in May 2018 ahead of his wedding to American actress Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, on May 19, 2018.
Stepping Back and Life After the Palace
In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced they would step back from senior royal duties, seeking financial independence. They relocated to Southern California, settling in Montecito, and established Archewell Inc., spanning charitable and commercial ventures. The couple gave a widely watched interview to Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, appeared in the Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan in December 2022, and in January 2023 Harry published the bestselling memoir Spare. In October 2026, he fronted a MasterClass programme on grief in which he spoke about still talking to a treasured photograph of his mother — the story behind the “Prince Harry family photo story” search trend.
Personal Life
Harry married Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018. Their son, Prince Archie, was born on May 6, 2019, and their daughter, Princess Lilibet, on June 4, 2021. Harry has been open about his mental-health journey, including therapy for grief over his mother’s death, and advocates for better mental-health support through Invictus, Heads Together, and his role as chief impact officer at BetterUp.
Net Worth Snapshot
As of 2026, Prince Harry’s net worth is estimated at a combined $60 million with his wife Meghan Markle, according to Forbes — built from media deals with Netflix and Spotify, his bestselling memoir Spare, inheritances, and legal settlements, now that he no longer receives royal funding. The full breakdown is covered in our companion piece, Prince Harry’s net worth.
FAQ
Who is Prince Harry?
Prince Harry is the Duke of Sussex, the younger son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. Born September 15, 1984, he is a former British Army officer, founder of the Invictus Games, author of the bestselling memoir Spare, and husband of Meghan Markle. He stepped back from senior royal duties in 2020.
When did Prince Harry marry Meghan Markle?
Prince Harry married Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. The couple have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Why did Prince Harry step back from royal duties?
In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced they would step back from senior royal roles to become financially independent and escape intense media scrutiny. They relocated to Southern California and have not resumed working royal duties.
What is the Invictus Games?
The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick armed services personnel and veterans, founded by Prince Harry in 2014 after he was inspired by the U.S. Warrior Games. He remains its patron.