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, the younger son of King Charles III and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. He holds the position of fifth in the line of succession to the British throne. Known for his military service and philanthropic endeavors, Prince Harry has increasingly stepped away from royal duties. He and his wife, Meghan Markle, now reside in the United States, pursuing independent ventures through their organization Archewell, focusing on various charitable and media projects.
6 hours ago : Royal rift deepens: William's gesture as Harry faces estrangement and family tensions.
Prince Harry faces potential estrangement from Prince William amid intensifying anti-Sussex sentiment. King Charles remains silent as familial tensions escalate. William made a gesture to avoid humiliating Harry and Meghan.
1994: Scope of Allegations
In 1994, the judge refused Harry the permission to expand his case's scope back to 1994 and 1995 to cover allegations involving his mother.
1995: Scope of Allegations
In 1995, the judge refused Harry the 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, 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. He walked behind her funeral cortege.
January 2005: Remarks 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".
2005: Controversy over Nazi uniform
In early 2005, Prince Harry was photographed wearing a Nazi German Afrika Korps uniform with a swastika armband at a birthday party, sparking widespread backlash. He later issued a public apology.
October 2007: Video surfaces from Namibia trip
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: Alleged comment to Stephen K. Amos
In November 2008, British stand-up comedian Stephen K. Amos alleged that Prince Harry commented on his performance at Charles's 60th birthday celebration by saying, "You don't sound like a black chap."
February 2009: Failed pilot's theory test
In February 2009, Prince Harry initially failed his pilot's theory test.
2013: Met with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz
In 2013 Harry met Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz
February 2014: Man Jailed for Plotting to Murder Harry
In February 2014, a judge sentenced Ashraf Islam to three years in prison for plotting to murder Harry, believing Harry had "a moral guilt" due to his army service.
2014: Met with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz
In 2014 Harry met Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz
2015: Severing ties with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz
In 2015, Harry severed ties with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz after expressing "growing concerns" about his motives.
2016: Additional Allegations
In 2016, the judge refused Harry the permission to add new allegations from 2016 involving his then-girlfriend Meghan.
June 2019: 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 Targeting Harry
In June 2019, two members of the neo-Nazi group Sonnenkrieg Division were jailed for sharing propaganda posters, including one that labelled Harry as a "race traitor" with a gun pointed at his head.
August 2019: Criticism for Private Jet Journeys
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, raising concerns about their environmental activism.
October 2019: Harry Sues 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".
January 2020: IPSO Sides with Mail on Sunday in Dispute Over Instagram Photo
In January 2020, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) sided with the Mail on Sunday over a dispute regarding an Instagram photo involving Harry in which, according to the newspaper, elephants were in fact "tranquilised" and "tethered" during a relocating process. The IPSO rejected Harry's claim that the paper's description was "inaccurate" or "misleading".
January 2020: Buckingham Palace Announces Agreement for Harry to Step Back from Royal Duties
On January 18, 2020, Buckingham Palace announced an agreement for Prince Harry "to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments".
March 2020: Loss of Publicly Funded Security
In March 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan faced difficulties with obtaining and maintaining publicly funded security in Canada and the United Kingdom after announcing their self-demotion within the royal family. The Government of Canada announced RCMP security would not be provided after the couple's status changed, and similar petitions circulated in the UK. President Donald Trump asserted the United States would not pay for their security either.
February 2021: Harry Gives Up Honorary Military Appointments
In February 2021, the Palace confirmed that Prince Harry would give up his position as Captain General Royal Marines and hand back all other honorary military appointments.
March 2021: Charity Commission Review of Sussex Royal
In March 2021, it was reported that the Charity Commission for England and Wales was conducting a review of the Sussex Royal organisation regarding its conduct under charity law during dissolution.
June 2021: Statement on HALO Trust attack in Afghanistan
In June 2021, Prince Harry issued a statement condemning the attack on a HALO Trust mine clearance camp in Afghanistan, where ten members were killed, calling it "an act of barbarism".
August 2021: Backlash for Private Jet Flight to Charity Tournament
In August 2021, Harry received backlash for taking a two-hour private jet flight between California and Aspen, Colorado, to participate in an annual charity polo tournament.
September 2021: Legal fight over police protection refusal
In September 2021, Prince Harry initiated a legal fight over the Home Office's refusal to allow him to pay for police protection.
December 2021: "CBE scandal" and severing ties with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz
In December 2021, reports emerged about Prince Harry's meetings with Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, whose receipt of a CBE became the subject of an investigation. Harry stated he severed ties with Mahfouz in 2015.
2021: Premier of "The Me You Can't See"
In 2021, Prince Harry's mental-health television documentary, "The Me You Can't See", premiered, where he revealed undergoing four years of therapy, encouraged by his future wife. He also discussed experiencing panic attacks, severe anxiety, and burnout in his late 20s due to heavy official duties.
2021: Alleged Statement by Private Investigator
In 2021, a private investigator's alleged statement was used as a key element in the case against ANL. The investigator, Gavin Burrows, later claimed that the statement was not signed by him and was "a cut and paste from my evidence" of other publishers targeting individuals.
January 2022: RAVEC decision on State security
In January 2022, RAVEC decided that State security could not be made available to private individuals even if they wished to pay for it themselves, leading to Prince Harry's lawsuit.
January 2022: Court hearing of police protection case
In January 2022, the first court hearing of Prince Harry's case against the Home Office 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.
February 2022: Harry Files Libel Suit Against ANL
In February 2022, Harry filed a libel suit in the High Court against ANL for a Mail on Sunday article alleging he was trying to keep his legal battle against the Home Office secret. The article also claimed that he offered to pay for police protection only after filing a lawsuit against the government.
April 2022: Criticism by BetterUp coaches
In April 2022, reports emerged of criticism by BetterUp's coaches over the new metrics placed for evaluating their services and over the opacity surrounding Prince Harry's actual role in the firm, where he is the Chief Impact Officer.
June 2022: Private Jet Usage After Platinum Jubilee
In June 2022, Harry and Meghan were criticized for boarding a private jet on their way to California after the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, which was estimated to have emitted "ten times more carbon than flying commercial".
June 2022: Ruling on Potentially Defamatory Parts of Article
In June 2022, Mr Justice Nicklin ruled that parts of the article in question were potentially defamatory, though he rejected claims by Harry's lawyers that the article portrayed him as a liar.
August 2022: Lawsuit against the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police
In August 2022, Prince Harry filed a lawsuit against the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police, challenging the decision by RAVEC from January 2022 which stated that State security could not be made available to private individuals even if they wished to pay for it themselves.
October 2022: Legal Action Against ANL for Alleged Criminal Activity
In October 2022, the Duke of Sussex joined Doreen Lawrence, Sir Elton John, David Furnish, Sadie Frost, and Elizabeth Hurley in launching a legal action against ANL for their alleged "abhorrent criminal activity", including phone hacking and obtaining sensitive information.
December 2022: Harry Among Most Disliked Royals
In December 2022, Harry was found to be the third most disliked member of the British royal family by YouGov, preceded by his uncle Prince Andrew and his wife Meghan.
January 2023: Memoir "Spare" Reveals Taliban Killings and Backlash
In January 2023, Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" was published, revealing he killed 25 Taliban members during his military service. He expressed feeling trained to dehumanize them, viewing them as "chess pieces". The revelations led to security concerns and backlash from the Taliban and British figures.
January 2023: High Court Judge Rules Lawsuit Against MGN to Go to Trial
In January 2023, a High Court judge ruled that Harry's lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) and other similar lawsuits against the publisher would go to trial in May 2023.
February 2023: Initial ruling against Harry's case
In February 2023, a High Court judge ruled that Prince Harry's second case against the Home Office should be thrown out; however, the decision was later appealed by Harry's legal team.
May 2023: Loss of legal challenge for police protection
In May 2023, Prince Harry lost the legal challenge against the Home Office, meaning that he will not be allowed to make private payments for police protection.
May 2023: Trial Begins for Lawsuit Against MGN
In May 2023, the trial for Harry's lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) began. At the beginning of trial, MGN apologised for one instance of unlawful information gathering against Harry.
June 2023: Harry Testifies in Court Case
In June 2023, Harry testified in the court case against MGN, accusing former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan of horrific personal attacks and claiming that his phone had been hacked dating back to when he was still at Eton. It marked the first time a member of the royal family had been cross-examined in court since 1891.
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 the remaining £10,000 covered by Harry.
July 2023: Ruling on 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: Ruling on Admissibility of Leveson Inquiry Material
In November 2023, Mr Justice Nicklin ruled that the case brought by Harry and the other claimants could proceed but unpublished material provided to the Leveson Inquiry was inadmissible as proof in this case.
December 2023: High Court Rules in Favor of Harry in Phone Hacking Case
In December 2023, the High Court ruled in favour 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. The judge concluded Piers Morgan and other editors knew about the phone hacking at their publications and were involved in it.
December 2023: Judge Rejects Motion to Throw Out Publisher's Defence
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. He also ordered Harry to pay Mail on Sunday £48,447 in legal costs.
2023: Release of memoir
In his 2023 memoir, Prince Harry described himself as an agoraphobe, detailing his personal struggles with mental health and anxiety.
January 2024: Harry Withdraws Libel Claim and Becomes Liable for Legal Costs
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 Threatening Harry and Archie
In January 2024, two neo-Nazis, Christopher Gibbons and Tyrone Patten-Walsh, were sentenced to prison for terrorism, including calling for the deaths of Harry and his son Archie on their podcast.
February 2024: Settlement 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 ruling against Harry in Home Office case
In February 2024, the High Court ruled against Prince Harry in his case against the Home Office and upheld the decision by RAVEC, stating that there had been no unlawfulness in the decision-making process for his security arrangements. Harry's lawyers announced that they would appeal the decision.
March 2024: Harry 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, who allegedly used him and other famous figures to attract guests to his parties.
April 2024: Loss of initial appeal attempt and cost liability
In April 2024, Prince Harry lost an initial attempt to appeal against the ruling. The judge held him liable for 90% of the Home Office's legal costs. It was also revealed that during the proceedings Harry had leaked information via email.
May 2024: Restrictions on Including Claims Against Rupert Murdoch
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's decision
In May 2024, Prince Harry was given permission by the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court's decision.
October 2024: Decision on Settlement or Trial
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: Justine Bateman Calls Harry and Meghan's Behavior "Repulsive"
In January 2025, Justine Bateman criticized Harry and Meghan's behavior as "repulsive" for showing up at a food bank during the Southern California wildfires in the Pacific Palisades, accusing them of seeking a "photo op" and labeling them "disaster tourists".
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