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, his role within the monarchy has evolved significantly in recent years. He served in the British Army, undertaking two tours of Afghanistan. In 2018, he married Meghan Markle, and they have two children. In 2020, Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior working royals and relocated to the United States, pursuing financial independence through various ventures. They have since spoken openly about their experiences within the royal family, leading to considerable media attention and public discussion.
1996: Intrusion by The Sun
Between 1996 and 2011, The Sun engaged in "serious intrusion" into Prince Harry's life.
1996: Parents' Divorce
In 1996, Prince Harry's parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, divorced.
1997: Death of Princess Diana
In 1997, Prince Harry's mother, Princess Diana, died in a car crash in Paris. Harry, then aged 12, walked behind the funeral cortège.
2005: Nazi uniform controversy
In early 2005, Prince Harry was photographed wearing a Nazi German Afrika Korps uniform at a themed party, which sparked widespread criticism. He later issued a public apology.
October 2007: Video surfaces of Prince Harry's trip to Namibia
In October 2007, a video from Prince Harry's trip to Namibia with his friends surfaced, which showed him snorting vodka and licking a male friend's nipples.
November 2008: Allegation by Stephen K. Amos
In November 2008, British comedian Stephen K. Amos alleged that Prince Harry made a racially insensitive comment after his performance at Prince Charles's 60th birthday celebrations.
January 2009: Racist remarks video revealed
In January 2009, a video from three years prior surfaced showing Prince Harry using racist terms, leading to widespread condemnation. Clarence House issued an apology, and Harry was reportedly instructed to attend a diversity course.
February 2009: Failed Pilot's Theory Test
In February 2009, Prince Harry initially failed his pilot's theory test.
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 Harry, motivated by his belief that Harry had "a moral guilt" from being in the army.
2017: Harry acknowledges seeking counselling after mother's death
In 2017, Harry acknowledged that with the support of his brother he had sought counselling years after his mother's death. He added that he had struggled with aggression and anxiety.
May 2019: Splash News Apology and Damages
In May 2019, Splash News formally apologized to the Sussexes for endangering their privacy by sending photographers to their Cotswolds residence. The agency also agreed to pay damages and legal costs related to the case.
June 2019: Reactions to royal family's carbon footprint
In June 2019, the royal family faced reactions after it was revealed that they had doubled their carbon footprint from business travel.
June 2019: Neo-Nazis jailed for sharing propaganda against Harry
In June 2019, two members of the neo-Nazi group Sonnenkrieg Division were jailed for sharing propaganda posters, one of which labelled Harry as a "race traitor" with a gun pointed at his head.
July 2019: The Sun payments to royal official's partner
In July 2019, it was alleged that The Sun made two payments amounting to £4,000 to the partner of a royal official in relation to stories published in June and July 2019 which detailed the nannying and god-parenting arrangements for Harry and Meghan's son Archie.
August 2019: Criticism for private jet travel
In August 2019, Harry and Meghan faced criticism for reportedly taking four private jet journeys in 11 days, including one to Elton John's home in Nice, France. The backlash was related to their environmental activism.
October 2019: Lawsuit against Daily Mirror, The Sun, and News of the World
In October 2019, it was announced that Harry had sued the Daily Mirror, The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World "in relation to alleged phone-hacking". Harry sought damages in excess of £200,000 from the publisher of the News of the World and The Sun and alleged an earlier agreement between News Group Newspapers (NGN) and the royal family which would see he and William not take legal action in return for an apology had not been honoured.
January 2020: Announcement of stepping back as senior royal members
In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan announced they were stepping back from their roles as senior members of the royal family and would balance their time between the United Kingdom and North America. They were to become financially independent and cease to represent the Queen.
January 2020: Legal Warning to the Press
In January 2020, lawyers issued a legal warning to the press after paparazzi photographs of Harry and Meghan were published in the media without their consent.
January 2020: IPSO sides with Mail on Sunday in Instagram photo dispute
In January 2020, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) sided with the Mail on Sunday over a dispute with Harry regarding an Instagram photo. The IPSO rejected Harry's claim that the paper's description of elephants being "tranquilised" and "tethered" was inaccurate.
January 2020: Megxit Story and Announcement
On January 8, 2020, Dan Wootton broke the story about "Megxit" and Harry and Meghan's initial plans for moving to Canada in The Sun, which prompted the couple to issue an announcement within hours, confirming their plans for stepping back from their royal duties. Sources close to the couple told The New York Times that they "felt forced to disclose their plans prematurely" as they learned about The Sun's intentions to publish the story.
March 2020: Security challenges in Canada and the UK
In March 2020, Harry and Meghan faced challenges regarding publicly funded security in both Canada and the UK after stepping back from royal duties. A petition in Canada called for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to stop providing security, and the Canadian government ended RCMP security provision after their status changed. A similar petition circulated in the UK and President Donald Trump stated that the United States would not pay for their security.
March 2020: Lawsuit Against Splash UK
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 they were staying in Canada.
April 2020: Cooperation Boycott
In April 2020, Harry and Meghan announced that they would no longer cooperate with the Daily Mail, the Sun, the Mirror, and the Express.
June 2020: Threat to Sue The Sun and Dan Wootton
In June 2020, Harry's lawyers issued a 'letter before action', threatening to sue the Sun and Dan Wootton based on allegations that they had paid money to associates of palace officials to secure their stories about the nannying and god-parenting arrangements for Harry and Meghan's son Archie.
September 2020: Legal Complaint Against The Times
In September 2020, 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.
December 2020: Lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited
In December 2020, Harry's legal team sued Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) for publishing a story in the Mail on Sunday claiming his working relationship with the Royal Marines had suffered. The newspaper later accepted the claims were false and issued an apology. The damages were donated to the Invictus Games Foundation.
2020: Move to the United States
In 2020, during the Oprah interview broadcast in March 2021, Harry and Meghan talked about the initial difficulties associated with their move to the United States and their plans for the future.
February 2021: Harry gives up position as Captain General Royal Marines
In February 2021, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Duke would give up his position as Captain General Royal Marines and hand back all the other honorary military appointments.
March 2021: Charity Commission review of Sussex Royal
In March 2021, the Charity Commission for England and Wales conducted a review of the Sussex Royal organisation regarding its conduct during dissolution, later criticizing the board for fund expenditure.
June 2021: BBC Defamation Claim
In June 2021, the BBC reported that Harry and Meghan had not sought the Queen's permission before naming their daughter Lilibet with her personal family nickname. Lawyers for the couple subsequently accused the BBC of defamation, stating that Harry had spoken to the Queen before announcing their daughter's name.
August 2021: Backlash for private jet use to charity polo tournament
In August 2021, Harry received backlash for taking a two-hour flight on private jets between California and Aspen, Colorado, to participate in an annual charity polo tournament.
September 2021: Legal Fight Over Police Protection Started
In September 2021, Prince Harry began a legal fight with the Home Office over their refusal to allow him to pay for police protection.
October 2021: Bot Sentinel Report on Negative Content
In October 2021, Twitter analytics service Bot Sentinel alleged that 83 accounts were responsible for approximately 70% of the negative content posted about Harry and Meghan, prompting an investigation by Twitter.
December 2021: "CBE scandal" and severance of ties with Mahfouz
In December 2021, reports emerged about Prince Harry's meetings with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, leading to the "CBE scandal." Harry stated he severed ties with Mahfouz in 2015 due to concerns about his motives.
2021: Alleged Gavin Burrows' statement used as a key element in the case
In 2021, Gavin Burrows' alleged statement was used as a key element in the case. He declared it wasn't signed by him and was "a cut and paste from my evidence".
2021: The Me You Can't See documentary
In 2021, Prince Harry revealed in his mental-health television documentary, "The Me You Can't See", that he had undergone four years of therapy for mental health issues, which he was encouraged to do by his then-future wife. He also talked about suffering from panic attacks, severe anxiety and burnout in his late 20s.
January 2022: Legal Complaint Against The Times
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 Challenged
In January 2022, RAVEC made a decision that stated State security could not be made available to private individuals, even if they were willing to pay for it themselves, which became a core point of contention in Harry's legal challenges.
January 2022: Legal Fight Over Police Protection
In January 2022, it was reported that Prince Harry had been in a legal battle with the Home Office since September 2021 regarding their refusal to allow him to pay for police protection. It was revealed that Harry had 'exceptional status' and RAVEC determined his personal protective security on a case-by-case basis.
January 2022: Fake Advertisements Using Harry and Meghan's Images
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 for Mail on Sunday article
In February 2022, Harry filed a libel suit in the High Court against ANL for a Mail on Sunday article alleging he tried to keep his legal battle against the Home Office secret.
April 2022: Criticism over BetterUp Role and Metrics
In April 2022, reports emerged of criticism from BetterUp coaches regarding new service evaluation metrics and a lack of clarity surrounding Harry's role in the firm.
June 2022: Private jet use after Queen's Platinum Jubilee
In June 2022, Harry and Meghan boarded a private jet on their way to California after the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. It was estimated that the jet emitted ten times more carbon than flying commercial.
June 2022: Parts of article deemed potentially defamatory
In June 2022, Mr Justice Nicklin ruled that parts of the Mail on Sunday article were potentially defamatory, though he rejected claims that the article portrayed Harry as a liar.
August 2022: Lawsuit Filed Against Home Office and Metropolitan Police
In August 2022, Prince Harry filed a lawsuit against the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police, challenging RAVEC's decision from January 2022 that stated State security could not be made available to private individuals, even if they were willing to pay for it themselves.
October 2022: Legal action against ANL for alleged criminal activity
In October 2022, Harry joined others in launching a legal action against ANL for alleged "abhorrent criminal activity", including phone hacking and obtaining sensitive information.
December 2022: Harry ranked as third most disliked royal
In December 2022, Harry was identified as the third most disliked member of the British royal family by YouGov, following Prince Andrew and Meghan, after the release of his interview with Oprah Winfrey, his Netflix docuseries, and his memoir.
January 2023: High Court ruling on phone hacking lawsuit
In January 2023, a High Court judge ruled that 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: High Court Judge Ruling and Appeal
In February 2023, a High Court judge initially ruled against Prince Harry's second case, but Harry's legal team later appealed the decision.
May 2023: Legal Challenge Lost
In May 2023, Prince Harry lost his legal challenge, meaning he would not be allowed to make private payments for police protection.
May 2023: Trial begins, MGN admits to unlawful information gathering
In May 2023, at the beginning of trial, MGN apologised for one instance of unlawful information gathering against Harry and added that his legal challenge "warrants compensation".
June 2023: Harry testifies in phone hacking case
In June 2023, Harry testified in the court case accusing former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan of personal attacks and claiming his phone had been hacked since he was at Eton. His appearance marked the first time a member of the royal family had been cross-examined in court since 1891.
June 2023: Spotify Deal Ended, Archetypes Cancelled
In June 2023, Spotify announced it would not proceed with its deal with Harry and Meghan, cancelling their podcast "Archetypes" after one season.
June 2023: Costs of Legal Fight Revealed
In June 2023, a Freedom of Information request revealed that Prince Harry's legal fight with the Home Office had cost £502,236, with £492,000 covered by the state and £10,000 covered by Harry.
July 2023: Partial dismissal of phone-hacking claims
In July 2023, the judge ruled that part of 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 to proceed, some evidence inadmissible
In November 2023, Mr Justice Nicklin ruled that the case brought by Harry and the other claimants against ANL could proceed but unpublished material provided to the Leveson Inquiry was inadmissible as proof in this case.
December 2023: High Court rules in favour of Harry in phone hacking case
In December 2023, the High Court ruled in favor of Harry for 15 of the 33 sample stories used in his claims of phone hacking against MGN and awarded him £140,600 of the £440,000 he sought in damages.
December 2023: Motion rejected, trial to proceed
In December 2023, the judge rejected Harry's motion to have the publisher's defence thrown out and decided that the case should proceed to trial.
2023: Release of memoir
In his 2023 memoir, Prince Harry described himself as an agoraphobe, revealing more about his mental health struggles.
January 2024: Harry withdraws libel claim
In January 2024, Harry withdrew the libel claim and became liable for the publisher's £250,000 legal costs.
January 2024: Neo-Nazis Sentenced for Terrorism
In January 2024, two neo-Nazis, Christopher Gibbons and Tyrone Patten-Walsh, were given prison sentences between 8 and 11 years for terrorism, which included calling for the deaths of Harry and his son Archie on their podcast.
February 2024: Harry settles phone hacking claim with MGN
In February 2024, Harry settled his 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 Home Office Case
In February 2024, the High Court ruled against Harry in his case against the Home Office, upholding RAVEC's decision regarding his security arrangements. Harry's lawyers announced plans to appeal the decision.
March 2024: Mention in lawsuit against P. Diddy
In March 2024, Prince Harry was mentioned in a lawsuit against P. Diddy, who faced allegations of sexual trafficking. Harry was noted as a celebrity associate of P. Diddy.
March 2024: U.S. government ordered to hand over visa application details
In March 2024, the U.S. government was ordered to hand over Prince Harry's visa application details to a D.C. court following a failed freedom of information request by the Heritage Foundation (HF).
April 2024: Lost Initial Appeal and Cost Liabilities
In April 2024, Harry lost an initial attempt to appeal against the ruling in his Home Office case. He was also held liable for 90% of the Home Office's legal costs despite his lawyers' attempts to reduce this amount. Additionally, it was revealed that Harry had leaked information via email during the proceedings.
May 2024: Claims against Rupert Murdoch refused
In May 2024, Mr Justice Fancourt refused Harry the 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.
May 2024: Permission to Challenge High Court Decision Granted
In May 2024, the Court of Appeal granted Prince Harry permission to challenge the High Court's decision in his case against the Home Office.
September 2024: Case brought forward by the Heritage Foundation closed
In September 2024, the case brought forward by the Heritage Foundation (HF) was closed due to the filing of two sealed orders and a sealed "memorandum opinion". The HF subsequently filed a request to "vacate" the ruling and release confidential correspondence between the judge and DHS.
October 2024: Settlement or trial to proceed
In October 2024, the judge announced that the two sides should either settle or go to trial in January 2025 and refused to let Harry's team include allegations that bugs were placed in rooms and cars, and trackers placed on vehicles as "no particulars whatsoever of such allegations" were provided.
January 2025: Criticism for food bank appearance
In January 2025, Justine Bateman criticized Harry and Meghan's appearance at a food bank during the Southern California wildfires, calling them "disaster tourists" seeking a "photo op".
January 2025: Settlement with NGN
In January 2025, the two parties settled with NGN paying more than £10 million in pay outs and legal fees. NGN made a "full and unequivocal apology" for "serious intrusion" by The Sun between 1996 and 2011, and for the intrusion into the life of his mother.
March 2025: Resignation from Sentebale patronage
In March 2025, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned from their roles as patrons of Sentebale due to a dispute among the charity's trustees.
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