Challenges in the Life of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex in a Detailed Timeline
Life is full of challenges, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is a prominent member of the British royal family. He is the younger son of King Charles III and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Currently fifth in line to the British throne, Harry's life has been marked by both royal duties and personal pursuits. He served in the British Army and has been involved in various philanthropic endeavors, particularly focusing on mental health and supporting veterans. In recent years, he and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stepped down as senior working royals and now reside in the United States.
1994: Claims Involving Princess Diana
In May 2024, during Prince Harry's lawsuit against the Daily Mirror, The Sun, and the now-defunct News of the World regarding alleged phone hacking, the judge refused Prince Harry permission to expand his case's scope back to 1994 and 1995 to cover allegations involving his mother.
1995: Claims Involving Princess Diana
In May 2024, during Prince Harry's lawsuit against the Daily Mirror, The Sun, and the now-defunct News of the World regarding alleged phone hacking, the judge refused Prince Harry permission to expand his case's scope back to 1994 and 1995 to cover allegations involving his mother.
1996: Parents' Divorce
In 1996, Prince Harry's parents, Charles and Diana, divorced.
1997: Death of Princess Diana
In 1997, Princess Diana, Prince Harry's mother, died in a car crash in Paris. Harry and William were informed of their mother's death while at Balmoral Castle with their father.
January 2005: Controversial comment about Chelsy Davy
In January 2005, Prince Harry responded to an inquiry about his Zimbabwean girlfriend Chelsy Davy by saying, "She's not black or anything, you know", which was later seen as a racist remark.
2005: Nazi uniform controversy
In early 2005, Prince Harry was photographed at a "Colonial and Native"-themed birthday party wearing a Nazi German Afrika Korps uniform with a swastika armband. This choice sparked a backlash from the media, politicians, and religious figures, leading Clarence House to issue a public apology from Harry.
October 2007: Surfacing of Namibian trip video
In October 2007, a video from Prince Harry's trip to Namibia with his friends surfaced, showing him snorting vodka and licking a male friend's nipples, leading to controversy and media attention.
November 2008: Alleged comment to Stephen K. Amos
In November 2008, British stand-up comedian Stephen K. Amos alleged that Prince Harry commented on his performance by saying, "You don't sound like a black chap", during Charles's 60th birthday celebrations, though he hoped that the remarks were made in jest.
January 2009: Release of controversial video
In January 2009, the British tabloid News of the World revealed a video made by Prince Harry three years earlier in which he used offensive terms, leading to widespread criticism. Clarence House immediately issued an apology from Harry, who stated that no malice was intended in his remarks.
February 2009: Failed Pilot's Theory Test
In February 2009, Prince Harry initially failed his pilot's theory test.
August 2012: Las Vegas photographs leaked
In August 2012, Prince Harry and an unknown young woman were photographed naked in a Wynn Las Vegas hotel room, reportedly during a game of strip billiards. The pictures were leaked by TMZ on August 21, 2012, and reported worldwide by mainstream media, leading to significant media attention.
February 2014: Ashraf Islam sentenced for plotting to murder Harry
In February 2014, Ashraf Islam was sentenced to three years in prison for plotting to murder Prince Harry because he believed Harry was morally guilty due to his army service.
2015: Severing Ties with Mahfouz
In 2015, Prince Harry stated that he severed ties with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz due to "growing concerns" about his motives. This action occurred after meetings in 2013 and 2014.
2017: Acknowledgment of Mental Health Struggles and Seeking Counseling
In 2017, Prince Harry acknowledged, with the support of his brother, that he had sought counselling years after his mother's death, struggling with aggression, anxiety, and being close to a complete breakdown. He took up boxing to cope with mental stress and used recreational drugs.
May 2019: Splash News apologizes for privacy breach
In May 2019, Splash News issued a formal apology to the Sussexes for sending photographers to their Cotswolds residence, which compromised their privacy. The agency also agreed to pay damages and cover legal costs.
June 2019: Royal Family's Carbon Footprint
In June 2019, the royal family faced criticism after it was revealed that they had doubled their carbon footprint from business travel. This event set the stage for later criticism of Harry and Meghan's private jet usage.
June 2019: Neo-Nazis jailed for sharing propaganda targeting Harry
In June 2019, two members of the neo-Nazi group Sonnenkrieg Division were jailed for sharing propaganda posters, including one labelling Harry as a "race traitor" with a gun pointed at his head.
August 2019: Criticism for Private Jet Journeys
In August 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan faced criticism for reportedly taking four private jet journeys in 11 days. One of the journeys was to Elton John's home in Nice, France. The criticism aligned with earlier reactions to the royal family's carbon footprint from travel.
January 2020: Legal warning issued to press over paparazzi photos
In January 2020, lawyers issued a legal warning to the press after paparazzi photographs of Harry and Meghan were published in the media.
January 2020: IPSO Sides with Mail on Sunday in Photo Dispute
In January 2020, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) sided with the Mail on Sunday in a dispute with Prince Harry regarding an Instagram photo. IPSO rejected Harry's claim that the newspaper's description of elephants being "tranquilised" and "tethered" was inaccurate.
February 2020: Decision to not use Sussex Royal as brand name
On February 21, 2020, it was confirmed that "Sussex Royal" would not be used as a brand name for Prince Harry and Meghan following their withdrawal from public life.
March 2020: Lawsuit against Splash UK for unauthorized photos
In March 2020, Harry and Meghan took Splash UK to court after the Duchess and their son were photographed without permission during a "private family outing" while staying in Canada. The case was later settled with Splash UK agreeing to refrain from taking unauthorized photos of the family.
March 2020: Security Difficulties in Canada and the UK
In March 2020, Harry faced difficulties obtaining and maintaining publicly funded security in Canada and the United Kingdom after announcing his self-demotion within the royal family. The Canadian government ceased providing RCMP security, and a similar petition circulated in the UK.
June 2020: Lawyers threaten to sue the Sun over story sourcing
In June 2020, it was reported that Harry's lawyers had issued a 'letter before action', threatening to sue the Sun and Dan Wootton over allegations that they had paid associates of palace officials for stories.
August 2020: Rename and Dissolution of Sussex Royal Foundation
On August 5, 2020, the Sussex Royal Foundation was renamed "MWX Foundation" and dissolved on the same day, marking the end of the organization's operations.
September 2020: Legal complaint issued over article about Invictus Games fundraiser
In September 2020, Prince Harry issued a legal complaint against The Times over an article claiming an Invictus Games fundraiser had been cancelled due to its affiliation with a competitor of Netflix, Harry's business partner.
2020: Harry and Meghan move to the United States
In 2020, Harry and Meghan moved to the United States, leading to initial difficulties and plans for the future as discussed in the Oprah interview.
March 2021: Charity Commission review of Sussex Royal
In March 2021, the Charity Commission for England and Wales initiated a review of the Sussex Royal organization in a "regulatory and compliance case" concerning its conduct under charity law during dissolution, leading to scrutiny of its operations.
August 2021: Backlash for Private Jet Flight to Polo Tournament
In August 2021, Prince Harry received backlash for taking a two-hour flight on a private jet between California and Aspen, Colorado, to participate in an annual charity polo tournament.
September 2021: Legal Fight Over Police Protection Begins
In September 2021, Harry started a legal fight with the Home Office over their refusal to allow him to pay for police protection.
October 2021: Bot Sentinel alleges coordinated negative content campaign
In October 2021, Twitter analytics service Bot Sentinel alleged that 83 accounts were responsible for about 70% of the negative content about Harry and Meghan, prompting a Twitter investigation.
December 2021: Reports of meetings with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz
In December 2021, reports surfaced regarding Prince Harry's meetings with Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, whose CBE receipt was under investigation. Harry referred to the situation as the "CBE scandal" in December 2021 and claimed he cut ties with Mahfouz in 2015 due to concerns, a claim disputed by his father's aides. Sentebale defended the meetings, denying any impropriety.
2021: The Me You Can't See Documentary Premiere
In 2021, Prince Harry's mental health television documentary, "The Me You Can't See", premiered. In the documentary, Prince Harry revealed he had undergone four years of therapy for mental health issues, after encouragement from his future wife. He also described suffering from panic attacks and severe anxiety and that official visits eventually led to burnout.
2021: Alleged Statement from Private Investigator
In 2021, a statement allegedly from Gavin Burrows, a private investigator, was used in Prince Harry's case against ANL. However, Burrows claimed that the statement was not signed by him and was "a cut and paste" from his evidence in cases against other publishers.
January 2022: Legal complaint filed against The Times over Archewell article
In January 2022, Harry and Meghan mutually filed a legal complaint against The Times for an article reporting on Archewell raising less than $50,000 in 2020.
January 2022: RAVEC Decision on Security
In January 2022, RAVEC stated that State security could not be made available to private individuals even if they wished to pay for it themselves.
January 2022: Legal Fight Over Police Protection Reported
In January 2022, it was reported that Harry had been in a legal fight since September 2021 over the Home Office's refusal to allow him to pay for police protection.
January 2022: Harry and Meghan's images used in fake ads
In January 2022, the BBC reported that Harry and Meghan's photos and videos were used in fake instant profits advertisements and bitcoin-related investment schemes.
February 2022: Libel Suit Against ANL
In February 2022, Prince Harry filed a libel suit against ANL for a Mail on Sunday article alleging he tried to hide his legal battle with the Home Office over police protection. The article also claimed he only offered to pay for protection after filing the lawsuit.
March 2022: High Court Ruling on Security Case Privacy
In March 2022, after the first court hearing of the case, it was revealed that Harry had 'exceptional status' and the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) still determined his personal protective security on a case-by-case basis. The High Court ruled that some parts of the case would remain confidential.
April 2022: Criticism over BetterUp's New Metrics and Harry's Role
In April 2022, reports emerged of criticism by BetterUp's coaches over new metrics and the opacity surrounding Harry's role in the firm.
June 2022: Private Jet Use After Queen's Jubilee
In June 2022, after the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Harry and Meghan boarded a private jet back to California, which was estimated to have emitted "ten times more carbon than flying commercial".
July 2022: Permission Granted for Judicial Review
In July 2022, Mr Justice Swift granted permission for part of Harry's claim to proceed for a judicial review.
August 2022: Lawsuit Filed Against Home Office and Metropolitan Police
In August 2022, Harry filed a lawsuit against the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police, challenging RAVEC's decision that State security could not be made available to private individuals.
October 2022: Legal Action Against ANL Launched
In October 2022, Prince Harry joined other public figures in launching legal action against ANL, alleging "abhorrent criminal activity" including phone hacking and accessing private information. ANL dismissed the allegations as "preposterous smears".
December 2022: YouGov Poll Ranks Harry as Disliked Royal
In December 2022, a YouGov poll found Prince Harry to be the third most disliked member of the British royal family, preceded by Prince Andrew and Meghan. This followed a decline in popularity after stepping back from royal duties and controversial media appearances.
January 2023: Release of Memoir "Spare" and Revelations
In January 2023, Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" was released, in which he revealed that he killed 25 Taliban members during his six missions, a claim that sparked considerable controversy and backlash from the Taliban, British politicians, and military figures. The revelations also prompted security concerns, leading to the evacuation of Pen Farthing from Kabul to avoid potential reprisal attacks.
January 2023: High Court Judge Rules on Lawsuits
In January 2023, a High Court judge ruled that Prince Harry's lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), as well as other similar lawsuits against the publisher, would go to trial in May 2023.
February 2023: Case Dismissal and Appeal
In February 2023, a High Court judge ruled that the second case should be thrown out; however, the decision was later appealed by Harry's legal team.
May 2023: MGN Apologizes at Trial Start
At the beginning of trial in May 2023, MGN apologized for one instance of unlawful information gathering against Prince Harry and added that his legal challenge "warrants compensation".
May 2023: Legal Challenge Lost
In May 2023, Harry lost the legal challenge, meaning that he will not be allowed to make private payments for police protection.
June 2023: Harry Testifies in Court Case
In June 2023, Prince Harry testified in the court case against MGN, accusing former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan of horrific personal attacks and claiming his phone had been hacked since his time at Eton. His appearance was historic, marking the first time a royal family member had been cross-examined in court since 1891.
June 2023: Spotify Cancels Archetypes
In June 2023, Spotify announced they would not proceed with their deal with Harry and Meghan, cancelling Archetypes after one season.
June 2023: Cost of Legal Fight Revealed
In June 2023, a Freedom of Information request revealed that Harry's legal fight with the Home Office had cost £502,236.
July 2023: Ruling on Phone Hacking Claims
In July 2023, the judge ruled that part of Prince Harry's case involving allegations of illegal information gathering would go to trial but his phone-hacking claims were dismissed for being made too late.
November 2023: Case Proceeding but Evidence Ruled Inadmissible
In November 2023, Mr Justice Nicklin ruled that the case brought by Prince Harry and other claimants against ANL could proceed. However, unpublished material provided to the Leveson Inquiry was deemed inadmissible as proof in this particular case.
December 2023: Motion Rejected in Libel Case
In December 2023, a judge rejected Prince Harry's motion to have ANL's defense thrown out in the libel case regarding a Mail on Sunday article. The judge decided the case should proceed to trial and ordered Harry to pay Mail on Sunday £48,447 in legal costs.
December 2023: High Court Rules in Favor of Harry
In December 2023, the High Court ruled in favor of Prince Harry for 15 of the 33 sample stories used in his claims of phone hacking against MGN, awarding him £140,600 in damages. The court concluded Piers Morgan and other editors knew about and were involved in the phone hacking.
2023: Satirized in South Park
In 2023, Harry and Meghan's exit from the royal family was satirized in an episode of South Park. This event reflects the ongoing scrutiny and commentary surrounding their choices.
2023: Release of memoir
In 2023, Prince Harry's memoir was released. In it, he described himself as an agoraphobe.
January 2024: Neo-Nazis sentenced for calling for deaths of Harry and Archie
In January 2024, Christopher Gibbons and Tyrone Patten-Walsh, two neo-Nazis, received prison sentences ranging from 8 to 11 years for terrorism, including calls for the deaths of Prince Harry and his son Archie on their podcast.
January 2024: Withdrawal of Libel Claim
In January 2024, Prince Harry withdrew his libel claim against ANL, making him liable for the publisher's £250,000 legal costs. This concluded the legal battle that began in February 2022.
February 2024: Settlement with MGN
In February 2024, Prince Harry settled his remaining claim with MGN. The publisher agreed to cover Harry's legal costs and pay damages reported to be in the region of £300,000.
February 2024: High Court Rules Against Harry in Security Case
In February 2024, the High Court ruled against Harry in his case against the Home Office and upheld RAVEC's decision, stating that there had been no unlawfulness in the decision-making process for his security arrangements.
March 2024: Named in Lawsuit Against P. Diddy
In March 2024, Prince Harry was named in a lawsuit against P. Diddy, who faced allegations of sexual trafficking. Harry was mentioned as a celebrity associate of Combs, allegedly used to attract guests to parties.
April 2024: Initial Appeal Attempt Lost
In April 2024, Harry lost an initial attempt to appeal against the ruling regarding his security arrangements. Additionally, the judge held him liable for 90% of the Home Office's legal costs, and it was revealed he had leaked information during the proceedings.
May 2024: Permission Granted to Challenge High Court Decision
In May 2024, Harry was given permission by the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court's decision regarding his security arrangements.
May 2024: Rejection of Claims in Phone Hacking Lawsuit
In May 2024, Mr Justice Fancourt refused Prince Harry permission to include claims against Rupert Murdoch, expand his case's scope back to 1994 and 1995 to cover allegations involving his mother or to add new allegations from 2016 involving his then-girlfriend Meghan in his phone hacking lawsuit.
October 2024: Settlement or Trial Decision
In October 2024, the judge announced that the two sides in Prince Harry's phone hacking lawsuit should either settle or go to trial in January 2025. The judge also refused to let Harry's team include allegations of bugs being placed in rooms and cars, and trackers on vehicles due to lack of specifics.
January 2025: Criticism for Food Bank Appearance
In January 2025, Justine Bateman criticized Prince Harry and Meghan, deeming their behavior "repulsive" for appearing at a food bank during the Southern California wildfires. Bateman accused them of seeking a "photo op" and called them "disaster tourists".
January 2025: Settlement in Phone Hacking Case
In January 2025, Prince Harry and News Group Newspapers (NGN) settled the phone hacking case, with NGN paying more than £10 million in payouts and legal fees. NGN issued a "full and unequivocal apology" for "serious intrusion" by The Sun between 1996 and 2011, and admitted to "unlawful activity" by private investigators but not by journalists.
March 2025: Resignation from Sentebale
In March 2025, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned from their roles as patrons of Sentebale following a dispute between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board, Sophie Chandauka, who reported the charity to the Charity Commission due to concerns about governance.
May 2025: Appeal Rejected and Liability for Legal Fees
In May 2025, Harry's appeal was rejected by three senior judges, and he was likely to be held liable for the UK government's legal fees.
Mentioned in this timeline
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish climate activist who gained international...
Sir Elton John is a highly successful British singer songwriter...
Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social networking service owned...
Oprah Winfrey is a highly influential American talk show host...
Facebook is a social media and networking service created in...
Elizabeth II reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom and...
Trending
16 days ago Tiny Home Village Provides Affordable Housing and Withstands Hurricane Milton's Impact
2 months ago Jasmine Crockett: Republicans' Shocking Messages Fuel Trump Concerns, Acosta's Jailed Fears.
1 month ago Dakota Johnson's 'Nonnegotiable' and potential Chris Martin Split: Relationship status updates.
3 months ago Chauncey Billups Secures Multiyear Contract Extension with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Caleb Love is an American basketball player who played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and later the...
1 hour ago Jacob Misiorowski shines in 2025 MLB All-Star Game amid selection debate.
Popular
Pam Bondi is an American attorney lobbyist and politician A...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
KPop Demon Hunters is a animated musical fantasy action comedy...
Thomas Douglas Homan is an American law enforcement officer and...
William Franklin Graham III commonly known as Franklin Graham is...
Candace Owens is an American conservative and far-right political commentator...