Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Prince Harry

He may have been the palace's resident party prince during his younger days, but the Duke of Sussex has since matured into a devoted husband and father who's actively involved in many charities—a quality we’re sure Princess Diana would approve of.

You've likely seen Prince Harry make dozens of headlines due to shocking revelations in his best-selling memoir, Spare. Or perhaps you've been keeping tabs on the prince's latest ventures, from the annual Invictus Games to his current Netflix deal with his wife, Meghan Markle. Either way, there's no denying that the royal has been thriving after his surprise exit from the royal family in 2020.

At the time, he said in a joint statement with his wife, "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America...This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity."

The announcement sparked some controversy and even caused a rift with his family. However, the duke and his wife have since launched their own charity foundation and media empire—and they've never looked happier. Keep reading for all the details of Prince Harry.

Fast Facts

• Official Royal Title: Duke of Sussex
• Hometown: London, England
• Birthday: September 15, 1984
• Spouse: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
• Children: Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex
• Star Sign: Virgo

Early Life

Born to King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry is currently fifth in line of succession to the British throne. The ginger-haired royal was raised with his older brother, Prince William, at Kensington Palace in London and Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, but the two brothers had a relatively normal childhood, thanks mainly to their late mother.

My childhood, I remember, was filled with laughter, filled with happiness, and filled with adventure.

Prince Harry

You may have spotted countless photos of Prince Harry and his brother embarking on adventures with their mom, from skiing and amusement park trips to beach getaways. However, Harry noted in the first episode of Netflix's Harry & Meghan, that he barely remembers them. He said, "I don't have many early memories of my mum. It was almost like, internally, I sort of blocked them out. But I always remember her laugh, her cheeky laugh. Her always saying to me, 'You can get in trouble, just don't get caught.' I'll always be that cheeky person inside."

The duke may not recall too many details about Princess Di, but he did mention that his childhood was "filled with laughter, filled with happiness, and filled with adventure."

Harry attended the prestigious Eton College from 1998 to 2003, then followed up with a gap year. At the time, he traveled to Australia to work as a jackaroo, then visited Lesotho, where he produced a documentary called The Forgotten Kingdom to raise awareness about AIDS and poverty in developing countries.

In 2005, Prince Harry started his military career by joining the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where he completed officer training. By the following year, he was commissioned as a Cornet in the Blues and Royals, and in 2008, he was promoted to lieutenant. The duke served in the Armed Forces for 10 years, conducting two tours of duty to Afghanistan with the British Army.

Marriage to Meghan Markle

It wasn’t until 2016 when the duke met his future wife and Suits actress, Meghan Markle. During their engagement interview in 2017, Prince Harry revealed, “We were introduced actually by a mutual friend…It was through her and then we met once and then twice back to back, two dates in London, last July. And then it was about three, maybe four weeks later, that I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana.”

The prince continued, “We camped out with each other under the stars, she came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic.”

To protect Markle from paparazzi and negative media attention, Prince Harry publicly confirmed their romance in November 2016 with a written statement on the royal family’s official website. The two dated for more than a year before they got engaged in November 2017, and on the day of the announcement, the couple spoke with the BBC, revealing that Harry popped the question at home. Markle recalled, "It was just so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee. As a matter of fact, I could barely let [him] finish proposing. I was like, 'Can I say yes now?'"

On May 19, 2018, the couple said their 'I do's' at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. It was attended by 600 guests, including Serena Williams, George Clooney, Priyanka Chopra and David Beckham.

Family & Children

The happy couple now has two children. On May 6, 2019, the couple welcomed their son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, and on June 4, 2021, they welcomed their daughter, Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.

Being a dad is one of life’s greatest joys.

Prince Harry

Prince Harry and Markle are careful to protect their children's privacy, but the young royals have occasionally made appearances on their mom's social media. For instance, in April 2025, fans caught a glimpse of Lili's red hair after Markle posted footage of her kids enjoying a sweet treat. Additionally, the duchess shared a garden-themed pic of herself carrying her daughter on one hip, while her son clings to the other. She captioned the post, "Every day is a love story."

Harry has also been vocal about how fatherhood has changed him. While speaking with BBC about his kids in 2024, he said, “Becoming a father of two incredibly kind and funny kids has given me a fresh perspective on life, as well as sharpening my focus in all my work. Being a dad is one of life’s greatest joys and has only made me more driven and more committed to making this world a better place.”

Personal Life

A year before they welcomed their daughter Lilibet, the duke and his wife announced that they were stepping down from their royal duties, much to the surprise of royal enthusiasts. On Instagram, they released a statement that reads, "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend 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." 

In 2021, the Duke and Duchess did a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey, and the couple touched on several personal topics, from their difficult decision to leave the royal family to Markle's struggle with mental health.

Fortunately, things looked up after their exit. The royal couple now lives with their family in Santa Barbara, keeping busy with charity projects and media ventures.

As for the duke's romantic history, he has dated a few women before tying the knot with Markle—and he even wrote about a few of his past relationships in his memoir, Spare. He opened up about his former girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, whom he dated on and off from 2004 to 2011. He revealed she was his first kiss and noted that she was "wholly unconcerned with appearances, with propriety, with royalty.”

Another former flame he mentioned was Caroline Flack, whom he described as “funny and sweet and cool” in his memoir. However, they parted ways as soon as their relationship went public in 2009. In addition, Harry has also dated Cressida Bonas and Florence Brudenell-Bruce.

Personal Style

Call it the Meghan Markle effect, but Prince Harry's style has definitely evolved after his relationship with Markle. Initially, the duke would often opt for casual attire, from sports jerseys to trousers. Now, he steps out in crew neck sweaters and sleek, tailored suits, sticking to navy blues and neutral tones.

Royal Endeavors

Although Prince Harry stepped down as a working royal, he still holds a few patronages, some of which focus on mental health and military veterans. Per his official website, he's the founder and patron of global charities and organizations like Travalyst, Sentebale and WellChild. He also sits on the board of African Parks, and in 2021, he was named Chief Impact Officer at the mental health and coaching startup, BetterUp.

Additionally, in 2014, Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games—an international sporting event for wounded war veterans and military service personnel. His website reads, "The international event is a globally celebrated display of resilience, community and athleticism that has won acclaim for its impact in celebrating those that serve."

Ventures & Businesses

In April 2020, after they stepped down from the royal family, Prince Harry and Markle co-founded The Archewell Foundation, and according to their website, their goal is to "identify immediate needs, build meaningful initiatives, and drive long-term change." The couple also launched Archewell Productions, through which they've produced projects like With Love, Meghan, Harry & Meghan, Heart of Invictus and Live to Lead.

In that same year, the royal couple signed a five-year, $100 million deal with Netflix. Plus, the duo landed a multi-year deal with Spotify to produce podcasts, and it was worth an estimated $20 million. However, in 2023, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Spotify made a mutual decision to part ways on the initial deal, after one season of Markle's Archetypes podcast.

Aside from his media ventures, Prince Harry has also become a New York Times bestseller, thanks to his bombshell memoir, Spare. Per NPR, the royal revealed that he published the book so he could "own his story" after several people distorted the facts.