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. As of 2023, he stands fifth in the line of succession to the British throne. He has served in the British Army and gained considerable public attention for his charitable work and military service. Recent years have seen him step back from his role as a senior royal, relocating with his wife, Meghan Markle, to North America. He has since pursued various ventures, including media production and advocacy work, while remaining a figure of significant public interest.
8 hours ago : Prince Harry's Scandals, Controversies, and Invictus Games Invitation: A Royal Update
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle faced U.S. scandals and stirred controversies. Harry is reportedly inviting King Charles to the Invictus Games. These events continue to generate public interest and discussion.
1994: Claims Scope Expansion Refused
In May 2024, Mr. Justice Fancourt refused Harry permission to expand his case's scope back to 1994 and 1995 to cover allegations involving his mother.
1995: Claims Scope Expansion Refused
In May 2024, Mr. Justice Fancourt refused Harry permission to expand his case's scope back to 1994 and 1995 to cover allegations involving his mother.
1996: Parents' Divorce
In 1996, Harry's parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, divorced.
1996: Apology for Intrusions by The Sun
In January 2025, Harry and NGN settled with NGN making a "full and unequivocal apology" for intrusions by The Sun between 1996 and 2011, for "phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World" and the intrusion into the life of his mother
1997: Death of Princess Diana
In 1997, Harry's mother, Princess Diana, died in a car crash in Paris, and he walked behind her funeral cortège.
2001: Reported Cannabis Use and Drinking
In the summer of 2001, it was reported that Prince Harry had been smoking cannabis and drinking at his father's Highgrove House and at a local pub.
2002: Visit to Drug Rehabilitation Unit
In 2002, with Prince Charles's encouragement, Prince Harry visited a drug rehabilitation unit to talk to drug addicts after reports of cannabis use and drinking in 2001.
2005: Nazi Uniform Controversy
In early 2005, Prince Harry was photographed at a themed party wearing a Nazi German Afrika Korps uniform with a swastika armband, sparking significant media backlash. He later issued a public apology.
April 2006: Announcement of Potential Iraq Deployment
In April 2006, the Ministry of Defence announced that Harry would be shielded from the front line if his unit was sent to war in Iraq.
June 2007: Announcement that Harry would not serve in Iraq
By 16 May, 2007 Dannatt announced that Harry would not serve in Iraq due to security concerns.
January 2009: Release of Offensive Video
In January 2009, the News of the World released a video made by Prince Harry three years prior, in which he used offensive terms towards a Pakistani officer cadet and a soldier wearing a camouflage hood. Clarence House issued an apology on his behalf and he was instructed to attend a diversity course.
February 2009: Failed Pilot's Theory Test
In February 2009, Harry initially failed his pilot's theory test at the Defence Helicopter Flying School.
2011: Apology for Intrusions by The Sun
In January 2025, Harry and NGN settled with NGN making a "full and unequivocal apology" for intrusions by The Sun between 1996 and 2011, for "phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World" and the intrusion into the life of his mother
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, citing Harry's military service as a reason.
2015: Severing ties with Mahfouz
In 2015, Prince Harry stated that he severed ties with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz after expressing "growing concerns" about his motives.
2016: Claims Scope Expansion Refused
In May 2024, Mr. Justice Fancourt refused Harry permission to add new allegations from 2016 involving his then-girlfriend Meghan in the phone hacking case.
2017: Acknowledged Seeking Counseling
In 2017, Prince Harry acknowledged seeking counseling for his mental health struggles after his mother's death, revealing struggles with aggression and anxiety. He discussed this on Bryony Gordon's podcast Mad World.
May 2019: Splash News Apologizes to Sussexes
In May 2019, Splash News issued a formal apology to the Sussexes for endangering their privacy by sending photographers to their Cotswolds residence, also agreeing to pay damages and legal costs.
June 2019: Neo-Nazis jailed for sharing propaganda targeting Harry
In June 2019, two members of the Sonnenkrieg Division were jailed for sharing propaganda posters, one of which labelled Harry as a "race traitor" with a gun pointed at his head, leading to prison sentences.
July 2019: The Sun Publishes Stories Detailing Archie's Nannying and God-Parenting Arrangements
In July 2019, The Sun published stories detailing the nannying and god-parenting arrangements for Harry and Meghan's son Archie, leading to allegations of unlawful payments.
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 a trip to Elton John's home in Nice, France.
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: Legal Warning Issued Over Paparazzi Photos
In January 2020, lawyers issued a legal warning to the press after paparazzi photographs of Harry and his family were published in the media.
January 2020: Stepping back from role as senior members of the royal family
In January 2020, the Duke and Duchess announced that they were stepping back from their role as senior members of the royal family and would balance their time between the United Kingdom and North America.
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 in a dispute with Prince Harry over an Instagram photo, rejecting his claim that the paper's description of elephants being "tranquilised" and "tethered" was inaccurate.
January 2020: Megxit Story Prompts Early Announcement
On 8 January 2020, Dan Wootton broke the story about Megxit and Harry and Meghan's plans for moving to Canada, 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 later spoke to The New York Times, stating that they "felt forced to disclose their plans prematurely" as they learned about The Sun's intentions to publish the story.
March 2020: Security Concerns and Backlash
In March 2020, Harry and Meghan faced difficulties with obtaining and maintaining publicly funded security, both in Canada and the United Kingdom, after they announced their self-demotion within the royal family. RCMP security would not be provided after March 2020 when the couple's status changed. A similar petition circulated in the UK in mid-March 2020. The backlash in the two countries led President Donald Trump to preemptively assert that the United States would not pay either.
March 2020: Sussexes Take Splash UK to Court
In March 2020, Harry and Meghan took Splash UK to court after unauthorized photos of Meghan and their son were taken during a private family outing in Canada.
April 2020: Duke and Duchess End Cooperation with Several Media Outlets
In April 2020, the Duke and Duchess announced that they would no longer cooperate with the Daily Mail, the Sun, the Mirror and the Express.
June 2020: Harry's Lawyers Threaten to Sue The Sun
In June 2020, Harry's lawyers issued a 'letter before action', threatening to sue The Sun and Dan Wootton over allegations of payments to palace officials for stories.
September 2020: Legal Complaint Issued over Article on Invictus Games Fundraiser
In September 2020, Harry issued a legal complaint against The Times for an article claiming an Invictus Games fundraiser was cancelled due to its affiliation with a competitor of Netflix.
2020: Move to the United States
In 2020, Harry and Meghan moved to the United States, citing the initial difficulties they faced during the transition and outlining their future plans, as revealed in their interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.
June 2021: BBC Reports Controversy over Lilibet's Name
In June 2021, despite palace congratulations on the birth of Lilibet, the BBC reported that Harry and Meghan had not sought the Queen's permission before using her personal family nickname, leading to accusations of defamation.
August 2021: Backlash for private jet flight to polo tournament
In August 2021, Harry received backlash for taking a two-hour flight on a private jet between California and Aspen, Colorado, to participate in a charity polo tournament.
September 2021: Legal fight over police protection
In September 2021, 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.
October 2021: Bot Sentinel Alleges Negative Content Campaign
In October 2021, Bot Sentinel alleged that 83 accounts were responsible for 70% of negative content about Harry and Meghan, leading to a Twitter investigation.
December 2021: Reports of Harry's meetings with Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz
In December 2021, reports surfaced about 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, stating he severed ties with Mahfouz in 2015 due to concerns about his motives.
2021: The Me You Can't See premiered
In 2021, Prince Harry's mental-health television documentary, "The Me You Can't See", premiered, where he discussed undergoing four years of therapy for mental health issues and suffering from panic attacks and severe anxiety.
2021: Alleged statement used in legal action against ANL
In 2021, an alleged statement of Gavin Burrows was used as a key element in the case of Harry against ANL but Burrows denied it.
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: Legal fight developments
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. Following the first court hearing of the case by the High Court, 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.
January 2022: Harry and Meghan's Images Used in Fake Investment Ads
In January 2022, the BBC reported that photos and videos of Harry and Meghan were used in fake instant profit advertisements and bitcoin-related investment schemes.
January 2022: RAVEC decision on security
In January 2022, the RAVEC stated that State security could not be made available to private individuals even if they wished to pay for it themselves, leading to a lawsuit.
February 2022: Harry files libel suit against ANL
In February 2022, Prince Harry filed a libel suit in the High Court against ANL for a Mail on Sunday article which alleged he was trying to keep his legal battle against the Home Office secret.
March 2022: High Court ruling on privacy in legal case
In March 2022, after receiving applications by the Duke and the Home Office to keep parts of the case private, the High Court ruled that some parts of it would remain confidential. Mr Justice Swift also reacted to the Duke's legal team sending a copy of the ruling to someone who was not a lawyer, describing it as "entirely unacceptable".
April 2022: Criticism over Harry's role in BetterUp
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 Harry's actual role in the firm.
June 2022: Private jet travel 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, estimated to have emitted "ten times more carbon than flying commercial".
June 2022: Ruling on potentially defamatory parts of the Mail on Sunday article
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.
July 2022: Permission for judicial review
In July 2022, Mr Justice Swift granted permission for part of Harry's claim to proceed for a judicial review in his case against the Home Office.
August 2022: Lawsuit against the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police
In August 2022, 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
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: Ranked as third most disliked royal family member
In December 2022, Prince Harry was ranked as the third most disliked member of the British royal family by YouGov, preceded by Prince Andrew and Meghan.
January 2023: Memoir "Spare" Reveals Taliban Killings
In January 2023, Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" was published, in which he revealed that during his military service he killed 25 Taliban members. He stated he was trained to view them as "chess pieces" rather than people, a claim that drew backlash from the Taliban, British politicians, and military figures. Pen Farthing, founder of the Nowzad Dogs charity, was evacuated from Kabul in January 2023 due to potential reprisal attacks.
January 2023: Lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers to go to trial
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 rules second case should be thrown out
In February 2023, a High Court judge ruled that the second case in Harry's lawsuit against the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police should be thrown out; however, the decision was later appealed by Harry's legal team.
March 2023: Gabor Maté Suggests Harry Suffers from PTSD, ADD, Anxiety, and Depression
In a live-streamed interview in March 2023, physician Gabor Maté publicly suggested that Harry could be suffering from PTSD, ADD, anxiety, and depression based on their conversation and Harry's autobiography, Spare.
May 2023: Trial begins with MGN apologizing for unlawful information gathering
At the beginning of the trial in May 2023, MGN apologized for one instance of unlawful information gathering against Harry and added that his legal challenge "warrants compensation".
May 2023: Losing the legal challenge
In May 2023, Harry lost the legal challenge against the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police, meaning that he will not be allowed to make private payments for police protection.
June 2023: Harry testifies in court against Daily Mirror editor
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 dating back to his time at Eton. This marked 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 the deal with Harry and Meghan, cancelling Archetypes which had run for a single season of 12 episodes.
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, with £492,000 covered by the state and the remaining £10,000 covered by Harry.
July 2023: Part of Harry's phone-hacking case proceeds to trial
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 against ANL can proceed
In November 2023, Mr. Justice Nicklin ruled that the case brought by Harry and other claimants against ANL could proceed, but unpublished material was inadmissible as proof.
December 2023: Motion rejected to throw out publisher's defense in libel suit
In December 2023, a judge rejected Harry's motion to have the publisher's defense thrown out and decided that the libel case should proceed to trial. He also ordered Harry to pay Mail on Sunday £48,447 in legal costs.
December 2023: High Court rules in favor 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 in damages. The court also concluded that 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.
January 2024: Neo-Nazis Sentenced for Terrorism, Called for Deaths of Harry and Archie
In January 2024, 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.
January 2024: Harry withdraws libel claim against Mail on Sunday
In January 2024, Prince Harry withdrew his libel claim against Mail on Sunday and became liable for the publisher's £250,000 legal costs.
February 2024: High Court rules against Harry in case against the Home Office
In February 2024, the High Court ruled against 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.
March 2024: Harry named in P. Diddy lawsuit
In March 2024, Harry was named in a lawsuit against P. Diddy, who faced allegations of sexual trafficking. He was mentioned as a celebrity associate used to attract guests to parties.
April 2024: Losing initial attempt to appeal against the ruling
In April 2024, Harry lost an initial attempt to appeal against the High Court's ruling in his case against the Home Office.
May 2024: Permission to challenge High Court decision
In May 2024, Harry was given permission by the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court's decision in his case against the Home Office.
May 2024: Harry's Permission to Include claims in his case is refused
In May 2024, Mr. Justice Fancourt refused 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 the phone hacking case.
October 2024: Settlement or Trial Deadline Announced
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 Criticizes Harry and Meghan's Food Bank Visit
In January 2025, Justine Bateman criticized Harry and Meghan's visit to a food bank during the Southern California wildfires, calling their behavior "repulsive" and accusing them of seeking a "photo op".
January 2025: Settlement Reached in Phone-Hacking Case
In January 2025, Prince Harry's and NGN parties settled with NGN paying more than £10 million in pay outs and legal fees. NGN made a "full and unequivocal apology" for intrusions by The Sun between 1996 and 2011, for "phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World" and the intrusion into the life of his mother, and admitted "incidents of unlawful activity" were carried out by private investigators working for the newspaper, but "not by journalists".
May 2025: Harry Reflects on Security Loss and Estrangement in BBC Interview
In May 2025, Harry reflected on the loss of taxpayer-funded security and his ongoing estrangement from his family during an interview with Nada Tawfik of the BBC.
May 2025: Appeal rejected by senior judges
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.
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