Early Life and Education of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex: A Complete Timeline
An overview of the childhood and early education of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.
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.
7 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.
February 1960: Father Declared Member of House of Windsor
On 8 February 1960, Harry's paternal grandmother, Elizabeth II, issued letters patent declaring his father to be a member of the House of Windsor.
December 1984: Prince Harry's christening
On December 21, 1984, Prince Harry was christened Henry Charles Albert David at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, by Robert Runcie.
May 1988: Harry Undergoes Surgery for Minor Hernia
In May 1988, Prince Harry underwent surgery for a minor hernia.
1991: Travels to Canada
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: Full and Unequivocal Apology for Serious Intrusion
In 1996, NGN made a "full and unequivocal apology" for "serious intrusion" 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".
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.
1998: Travels to Canada
November 2000: Harry Breaks Thumb While Playing Football
In November 2000, Prince Harry broke his thumb while playing football at Eton and underwent a minor operation.
2001: Harry Smokes Cannabis and Drinks
In the summer of 2001, it emerged that Prince Harry had been smoking cannabis and drinking at his father's Highgrove House and at a local pub.
2002: Trust fund disbursement
In 2002, The Times reported that Prince Harry would share a disbursement of £4.9 million from trust funds established by his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, on his 21st birthday.
2002: Harry Visits Drug Rehabilitation Unit
In 2002, it was reported that Prince Harry, with Charles's encouragement, had paid a visit to a drug rehabilitation unit to talk to drug addicts after it had emerged that he had been smoking cannabis and drinking.
June 2003: Completion of education at Eton
In June 2003, Prince Harry completed his education at Eton College with two A-Levels in art and geography.
2003: Given Nickname Mohale in Lesotho
In 2003, during his gap year in Lesotho, Harry was given the nickname Mohale (transl. 'the warrior'), a name that belonged to the younger brother of Moshoeshoe I.
September 2004: Passed the Regular Commissions Board
In September 2004, Prince Harry passed the Regular Commissions Board (RCB).
2004: First tour of Mants'ase Children's Home
In 2004 Harry first toured Mants'ase Children's Home near Mohale's Hoek in Lesotho.
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".
May 2005: Entry into Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
On May 8, 2005, Prince Harry entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, known as Officer Cadet Wales.
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.
April 2006: Commissioned as Cornet in the Blues and Royals
In April 2006, Prince Harry completed his officer training and was commissioned as a Cornet in the Blues and Royals.
October 2006: Completion of Troop Leaders' Course
In October 2006, Prince Harry completed the Troop Leaders' Course and rejoined his regiment in Windsor.
2006: Start of official engagements
Between 2006 and 2019, Prince Harry completed 1,190 engagements.
2006: Launch of Sentebale
In 2006, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho launched Sentebale: The Princes' Fund for Lesotho, a charity to assist children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
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.
2007: Organised the Concert for Diana
In 2007, Prince Harry and Prince William organised the Concert for Diana, in memory of their mother, which benefited the charities and patronages of Diana, William, and Harry.
2007: First deployment to Afghanistan
In 2007, Prince Harry was first deployed on active duty to Afghanistan for ten weeks in Helmand Province.
April 2008: Promotion to Lieutenant
On April 13, 2008, Prince Harry was promoted to lieutenant in the British Army.
May 2008: Awarded Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan
In May 2008, Princess Anne presented Prince Harry with an Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan at the Combermere Barracks for his service in Afghanistan.
October 2008: Enduro Africa motorbike ride
In October 2008, Prince Harry and Prince William embarked on the 1,000 mile eight-day Enduro Africa motorbike ride across South Africa to raise money for Sentebale, UNICEF and the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.
October 2008: Learning to fly military helicopters
In October 2008, it was announced that Prince Harry would learn to fly military helicopters at the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury.
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."
2008: First deployment to Afghanistan
In 2007-2008, Prince Harry served for ten weeks in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
January 2009: Establishment of Own Royal Household
On January 6, 2009, Queen Elizabeth II granted Prince Harry and Prince William their own royal household, separate from their father's office at Clarence House, to manage their public, military, and charitable activities from St James's Palace.
February 2009: Failed pilot's theory test
In February 2009, Prince Harry initially failed his pilot's theory test.
September 2009: Setting up The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry
In September 2009, Prince Harry and Prince William set up The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry to enable them to take forward their charitable ambitions.
2009: Reported Split from Chelsy Davy
In early 2009, it was reported that Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy had parted ways after a relationship that had lasted for five years.
May 2010: Awarded Flying Brevet
On May 7, 2010, Prince Charles presented Prince Harry with his flying brevet at a ceremony at the Army Air Corps Base, Middle Wallop.
2010: RFU's vice-royal patron
In 2010, Prince Harry served as the RFU's vice-royal patron since supporting the Queen as patron.
April 2011: Awarded Apache Flying Badge and promotion to Captain
In April 2011, Prince Harry was awarded his Apache Flying Badge on April 14, and on April 16, he was promoted to captain.
June 2011: Availability for deployment in Afghanistan
In June 2011, Clarence House announced that Prince Harry would be available for deployment in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter pilot.
2011: Full and Unequivocal Apology for Serious Intrusion
In 2011, NGN made a "full and unequivocal apology" for "serious intrusion" 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".
2011: Taking part in an unfinished trip to the North Pole with Walking With The Wounded
In 2011, Prince Harry took part in an unfinished trip to the North Pole with Walking With The Wounded.
March 2012: Official Visit to Belize, Bahamas, Jamaica and Brazil
In March 2012, Prince Harry led an official visit to Belize as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. He then continued to the Bahamas and Jamaica, where the Prime Minister was considering turning Jamaica into a republic. Then he visited Brazil to attend the GREAT Campaign.
May 2012: Participation in "Sing" Music Video
In May 2012, Prince Harry played tambourine and took part in the music video for the song "Sing", which was released to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee.
September 2012: Deployment to Afghanistan
On September 7, 2012, Prince Harry arrived at Camp Bastion in southern Afghanistan as part of the 662 Squadron, Army Air Corps, for a four-month combat tour.
2012: Second deployment to Afghanistan
In 2012, Prince Harry was deployed for twenty weeks to Afghanistan with the Army Air Corps.
January 2013: Return from Afghanistan
On January 21, 2013, it was announced that Prince Harry was returning from a 20-week deployment in Afghanistan.
May 2013: Official Visit to the United States
Between May 9 and 15, 2013, Prince Harry made an official visit to the United States to promote the rehabilitation of injured troops, publicise his charities, and support British interests. He visited Washington, DC, Colorado, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and met survivors of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey.
June 2013: DNA Tests Confirm Indian Descent
In June 2013, BritainsDNA announced that genealogical DNA tests on two of Harry and William's distant matrilineal cousins confirm Eliza Kewark was matrilineally of Indian descent.
July 2013: Qualified as Apache Aircraft Commander
On July 8, 2013, the Ministry of Defence announced that Prince Harry had successfully qualified as an Apache aircraft commander.
October 2013: Jo Brand's Comment on Have I Got News for You
In October 2013, Jo Brand made a comment on Have I Got News for You that implied Harry snorted cocaine. Representatives of Kensington Palace contacted the BBC, who apologized for the "factual inaccuracy" that George's godfather was Hugh van Cutsem.
December 2013: Expedition to the South Pole in Antarctica
In December 2013, Prince Harry joined Walking With The Wounded charity's 200-mile expedition to the South Pole in Antarctica, accompanying twelve injured servicemen and women from the UK, the US and the Commonwealth.
2013: Second deployment to Afghanistan
In 2012-2013, Prince Harry served for twenty weeks in Afghanistan with the Army Air Corps.
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.
March 2014: Harry Launches Invictus Games
On March 6, 2014, Prince Harry launched the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style sporting event for injured servicemen and women.
April 2014: Harry Meets Invictus Games Hopefuls at Tedworth House
On April 29, 2014, Prince Harry met British hopefuls for the Invictus Games at Tedworth House in Wiltshire for the start of the selection process.
April 2014: Reported Amicable Split from Cressida Bonas
On April 30, 2014, it was reported that Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas had parted amicably.
May 2014: Harry Attends Invictus Games Ticket Sale Launch at BT Tower
On May 15, 2014, Prince Harry attended a ticket sale launch for the Invictus Games at BT Tower. He also tweeted on the Invictus Games' official Twitter account as the president of the Games.
August 2014: Harry Attends British Armed Forces Team Announcement for Invictus Games
In August 2014, Prince Harry and officials attended the British Armed Forces Team announcement for the Invictus Games at Potters Field Park.
September 2014: Invictus Games Held
The Invictus Games, launched by Prince Harry, took place from September 10–14, 2014.
November 2014: Opened the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey
On November 6, 2014, Prince Harry opened the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, a task typically performed by Prince Philip.
2014: Met with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz
In 2014 Harry met Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz
2014: Inheritance from Princess Diana
In 2014, Prince Harry and Prince William each inherited £10 million from their mother's estate. They also inherited her wedding dress and other personal possessions.
2014: Launch of the Invictus Games
In 2014, Prince Harry launched the Invictus Games as founding patron, inspired by the Warrior Games in the United States, and remains involved.
January 2015: Harry Takes on New Role Supporting Wounded Service Personnel
In January 2015, it was reported that Prince Harry would take on a new role supporting wounded service personnel by working alongside members of the London District's Personal Recovery Unit for the MOD's Defence Recovery Capability scheme. He also visited The Battle Back Centre and Fisher House UK at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
March 2015: Harry Visits Phoenix House and Merville Barracks
In March 2015, Prince Harry visited Phoenix House in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, a recovery centre run by Help for Heroes, and Merville Barracks in Colchester, where Chavasse VC House Personnel Recovery Centre is located.
March 2015: Kensington Palace Announces Harry Will Leave Armed Forces
On March 17, 2015, Kensington Palace announced that Prince Harry would leave the Armed Forces in June. He would spend four weeks throughout April and May seconded to the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
April 2015: Visit to Australian War Memorial and Gallipoli Campaign Commemorations
In April 2015, Prince Harry visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra before reporting for duty to the Australian Defence Force (ADF). He also joined his father in Turkey to attend commemorations of the centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign.
April 2015: Harry Reports for Duty to Australian Defence Force
On April 6, 2015, Prince Harry reported for duty to Australia's Chief of the Defence Force at the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra, Australia. He then flew to Darwin to begin his month-long secondment to the ADF's 1st Brigade, training with various units including NORFORCE and the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR).
May 2015: Harry's Attachment with the ADF Ends
On May 8, 2015, Prince Harry's attachment with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) ended.
June 2015: Harry Resigns from Short Service Commission
On June 19, 2015, Prince Harry resigned his short service commission.
October 2015: Invictus Games Orlando 2016 Launch
In October 2015, Prince Harry launched the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 with First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Jill Biden at Fort Belvoir. He also attended an Invictus Games board meeting and a launch reception.
October 2015: Walk of Britain
In October 2015, as patron of Walk of Britain, Prince Harry walked with the team on 30 September and 20 October.
November 2015: Opening of Mamohato Children's Centre in Lesotho
In November 2015, Prince Harry, as patron of Sentebale, travelled to Lesotho to attend the opening of the Mamohato Children's Centre.
December 2015: Official Visit to South Africa
From November 30 to December 3, 2015, Prince Harry made an official visit to South Africa. He visited Cape Town, where he presented the insignia of the Order of the Companions of Honour to the Archbishop. Harry also played the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup, fundraising for Sentebale.
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.
January 2016: Harry Admits to Taking Magic Mushrooms at Courteney Cox's Party
In his memoir, Spare, Harry admits that he took magic mushrooms at a party at Courteney Cox's house in January 2016.
July 2016: HIV testing and attending International AIDS Conference
In July 2016, Prince Harry took an HIV test live on the royal family Facebook page on 14 July. He later attended the 21st International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, on 21 July.
2016: Additional Allegations
In 2016, the judge refused Harry the permission to add new allegations from 2016 involving his then-girlfriend Meghan.
January 2017: Visiting the Running Charity and Depaul UK
In January 2017, Prince Harry visited the Running Charity and its partner Depaul UK to highlight the role of sport in helping homeless and vulnerable people.
April 2017: Hosting Landmine Free 2025 reception
In April 2017, Prince Harry hosted the Landmine Free 2025 reception at Kensington Palace, where the UK government announced increased financial support for de-mining efforts.
September 2017: Harry and Meghan Make First Public Appearance at Invictus Games
In September 2017, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first public appearance together at the Invictus Games in Toronto.
November 2017: Engagement Announced
On November 27, 2017, Prince Harry's engagement to Meghan Markle was announced by his father.
December 2017: Guest Editing BBC Radio 4's Today Programme and Appointment as President of African Parks
In December 2017, Prince Harry guest edited BBC Radio 4's Today programme, conducting interviews on various issues. On 27 December 2017, he was officially appointed the new president of African Parks.
December 2017: Harry Succeeded Prince Philip as Captain General Royal Marines
On December 19, 2017, Prince Harry succeeded his grandfather Prince Philip as the Captain General Royal Marines.
April 2018: Appointment as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador and Patron of Walk of America
In April 2018, Prince Harry was appointed Commonwealth youth ambassador and became a patron of Walk of America, supporting veterans in a 1,000-mile expedition across the US. He also became the president of The Queen's Commonwealth Trust.
May 2018: Harry and Meghan Lease WestfieldLarge in the Cotswolds
In May 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly signed a two-year lease on WestfieldLarge, located on the Great Tew Estate in the Cotswolds. They gave up the lease after photos of the house and its interior were published.
May 2018: Harry and Meghan's Wedding Ceremony at Windsor Castle
On May 19, 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's marriage ceremony was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
July 2018: First Overseas Visit with Meghan to Dublin
In July 2018, Prince Harry travelled to Dublin, Ireland, alongside his wife Meghan, which marked their first overseas visit as a couple.
July 2018: Launch of MenStar
In July 2018, the Elton John AIDS Foundation announced that The Duke of Sussex and British singer Elton John were about to launch a global coalition called MenStar that would focus "on treating HIV infections in men".
October 2018: Travel to Sydney for 2018 Invictus Games
In October 2018, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex travelled to Sydney, for the 2018 Invictus Games as part of a Pacific tour that included Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.
April 2019: Working on documentary series about mental health with Oprah Winfrey
In April 2019, it was announced that Prince Harry was working as co-creator and executive producer on a documentary series about mental health together with Oprah Winfrey, which was initially set to air in 2020 on Apple TV+.
May 2019: Launch of Shout
In May 2019, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, launched Shout, which is the UK's first 24/7 text messaging service for those who suffer from mental health issues.
June 2019: Split from The Royal Foundation
In June 2019, it was announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would split from The Royal Foundation and establish their own charity foundation by the end of 2019.
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.
June 2019: Leaving The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry
Prince Harry left The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry charity in June 2019.
September 2019: Hiring Sunshine Sachs PR firm
In September 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan hired New York-based PR firm Sunshine Sachs.
September 2019: Visiting de-mining site in Angola
In September 2019, Prince Harry walked through a de-mining site in Angola, mirroring his mother's visit 22 years prior, to raise awareness for landmine removal.
September 2019: Launch of Travalyst
In September 2019, The Duke of Sussex launched Travalyst during his visit to the Netherlands after two years of development. The initiative encourages sustainable practices in the travel industry and tackles climate change and environmental damage, in collaboration with a number of companies, including Tripadvisor, Booking.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Visa Inc.
October 2019: Voicing Public Health England announcement
In October 2019, along with other members of the royal family, Harry voiced a Public Health England announcement for the "Every Mind Matters" mental health program.
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".
October 2019: Southern African Tour
In September and October 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan embarked on a Southern African tour including Malawi, Angola, South Africa and Botswana with their infant son Archie. Prince Harry visited the Born Free to Shine project in Luanda and Luengue-Luiana National Park.
November 2019: Interview with HIV+ Rugby player Gareth Thomas
In November 2019, to mark the National HIV Testing Week, The Duke of Sussex interviewed HIV+ Rugby player Gareth Thomas on behalf of the Terrence Higgins Trust.
2019: Presented trophy at Rugby League's Challenge Cup final
In 2019, Prince Harry presented the trophy at rugby league's Challenge Cup finals.
January 2020: Decision to step back announced
Before announcing their decision to step back in January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan were involved in talks with Jeffrey Katzenberg, the founder of Quibi, over a possible role in the service without gaining personal profits, but they eventually decided against joining the project.
January 2020: Stepping down as working royals
In January 2020, Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals and moved to Southern California.
January 2020: Announcement of Stepping Back as Senior Royals
In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan announced they would step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family and balance their time between the United Kingdom and North America, becoming financially independent and ceasing to represent the Queen.
January 2020: Prank by Russian comedy duo
In January 2020, Prince Harry was pranked by Russian comedians Vovan and Lexus, impersonating Greta Thunberg and her father. During the calls, Harry discussed his decision to leave the monarchy, describing it as "not easy", and criticised Donald Trump's stance on climate change.
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: Announcement Regarding Royal Duties
On 18 January 2020, Buckingham Palace announced that, following their decision to step back from royal duties, from 31 March 2020 the Duke and Duchess would not use their Royal Highness styles in practice or publicly.
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".
January 2020: Megxit Story Leads to Announcement
On January 8, 2020, Dan Wootton broke the story about Harry and Meghan's plans for moving to Canada, prompting them to announce their stepping back from royal duties within hours. Sources later claimed they felt forced to disclose prematurely due to the Sun's intentions to publish the story.
February 2020: "Sussex Royal" not used as brand name
On February 21, 2020, it was confirmed that "Sussex Royal" would not be used as a brand name for the couple following their withdrawal from public life.
March 2020: End of Royal Highness Styles in Practice
As of March 31, 2020, following their decision to step back from royal duties, the Duke and Duchess would no longer use their Royal Highness styles in practice or publicly.
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.
March 2020: Final Engagements as Senior Royal
In March 2020, Prince Harry attended the opening of the Silverstone Experience with Lewis Hamilton, his final solo engagement as a senior royal, and he and Meghan attended the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, their last engagement as a couple before officially stepping down on March 31.
March 2020: End of Role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador
In March 2020, Prince Harry's position as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador ended.
March 2020: Sussexes' Office Closed
On March 31, 2020, the Sussexes' office was moved to Buckingham Palace and officially closed when the Sussexes ceased "undertaking official engagements in support of the Queen".
April 2020: Confirmation of Archewell Foundation
In April 2020, Meghan and Harry confirmed their new foundation (in lieu of Sussex Royal) would be called "Archewell".
April 2020: Launch of HeadFIT initiative
In April 2020, Prince Harry launched HeadFIT, a platform designed to provide mental support for members of the armed forces. It was developed jointly by the Royal Foundation's Heads Together campaign, the Ministry of Defence, and King's College London.
June 2020: Harry and Meghan Buy House in Montecito
In June 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle bought a house on the former estate of Riven Rock in Montecito, California.
June 2020: Signing with Harry Walker Agency
In June 2020, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed with the Harry Walker Agency to conduct paid public speaking engagements.
June 2020: Backing of Stop Hate for Profit campaign
In June 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex supported the Stop Hate for Profit campaign, encouraging CEOs to join the movement.
August 2020: Renaming and Dissolution of Sussex Royal Foundation
On August 5, 2020, the Sussex Royal Foundation was renamed "MWX Foundation" and dissolved the same day.
September 2020: Video Addressing American Voters
In September 2020, Prince Harry and his wife released a video urging American voters to "reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity" in the 2020 United States presidential election, which was interpreted by some as an endorsement of Joe Biden.
September 2020: Signing Netflix deal
In September 2020, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a private commercial deal with Netflix.
October 2020: Official launch of Archewell website
In October 2020, the Archewell website was officially launched.
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 post-royal departure. The newspaper accepted the claims were false and issued an apology. The prince's lawyer said the "substantial damages" paid by the publisher would be donated to the Invictus Games Foundation.
2020: Incorporation of companies and a trust
Beginning in early 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan incorporated 11 companies and a trust including Orinoco Publishing LLC and Peca Publishing LLC to hold the rights for their books as well as Cobblestone Lane LLC and IPHW LLC which are holders of their foundation's logos.
2020: Move to the United States
In 2020, Harry and Meghan moved to the United States. During the interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, the pair talked about the initial difficulties associated with their move.
February 2021: Honorary Military Appointments Returned to Elizabeth II
In February 2021, Harry's honorary military appointments were returned to Elizabeth II.
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.
February 2021: Departure from The Queen's Commonwealth Trust
Prince Harry remained the charity's president until February 2021.
March 2021: Oprah Interview
In March 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sat for a highly publicized American television interview with Oprah Winfrey.
March 2021: Appointment as Chief Impact Officer at BetterUp and Commissioner for the Aspen Institute's Commission on Information Disorder
In March 2021, Prince Harry became the first chief impact officer at BetterUp, a mental health start-up, and was appointed as a commissioner for the Aspen Institute's Commission on Information Disorder.
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.
March 2021: End of Twelve-Month Review Period
In March 2021, the formal role of the Duke and Duchess was subject to a twelve-month review period.
March 2021: Oprah Winfrey Interview Airs on CBS
On March 7, 2021, Harry and his wife were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in a television special for CBS. Meghan discussed marriage, motherhood, and public life pressures, while Harry criticized his father's parenting and lack of relationship with his brother. The interview received a wide and polarized reaction.
April 2021: Campaign chairs for Vax Live and support for vaccine equity
In April 2021, Harry and Meghan were announced as campaign chairs for Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World, organized by Global Citizen, to promote COVID-19 vaccinations. They also supported a vaccine equity fundraiser and urged pharmaceutical CEOs to address the vaccine equity crisis.
May 2021: Guest on Armchair Expert Podcast
In May 2021, Prince Harry appeared on the Armchair Expert podcast, discussing freedom of speech in the United States and stating the First Amendment was "bonkers". His comments drew backlash from conservative figures like Ted Cruz and Nigel Farage.
May 2021: Support for Peak State mental fitness programme
In May 2021, Prince Harry publicly lent his support to Peak State, a mental fitness programme aimed at providing tools and resources for managing mental health.
May 2021: Release of 'The Me You Can't See' documentary series
In May 2021, it was announced that the documentary series 'The Me You Can't See', co-created and executive produced by Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey, would be released on 21 May on Apple TV+.
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".
June 2021: BBC Defamation Claim Over Daughter's Name
In June 2021, despite congratulations on the birth of their daughter Lilibet, the BBC reported that Harry and Meghan had not sought the Queen's permission before using her nickname. Lawyers for the couple accused the BBC of defamation, asserting that Harry had spoken to the Queen beforehand.
June 2021: Birth of Lilibet
On June 4, 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's daughter, Lilibet, was born.
July 2021: Announcement of Memoir Publication
In July 2021, it was announced that Prince Harry was set to publish his memoir Spare via Penguin Random House, with Harry reportedly earning an advance of at least $20 million.
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.
September 2021: Hosting virtual event for Warrior Games
In September 2021, Prince Harry, along with First Lady Jill Biden, hosted a virtual event for the Warrior Games after it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 2021: Partnership with Ethic
In October 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan announced their partnership with Ethic, a sustainable investment firm based in New York City, which also manages the couple's investments.
October 2021: Op-ed against oil drilling in Okavango River
In October 2021, Prince Harry spoke out against oil drilling in the Okavango River in an op-ed for The Washington Post.
November 2021: Claims of Warning Twitter CEO Before Capitol Attack
In November 2021, at Wired's Re:Wired Conference, Prince Harry claimed he emailed Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey a day before the January 6 United States Capitol attack, warning of potential unrest, but received no response.
November 2021: Publication of Aspen Institute's Commission on Information Disorder report
In November 2021, the Aspen Institute's Commission on Information Disorder published its report with 15 recommendations, with Prince Harry acting as commissioner.
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: Stepping down from the London Marathon Charitable Trust
In 2021, Prince Harry stepped down from the London Marathon Charitable Trust.
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.
March 2022: Signing open letter for global vaccine access
In March 2022, Prince Harry and his wife were among those who signed an open letter published by the People's Vaccine Alliance, advocating for free global access to COVID-19 vaccines.
April 2022: Interview with Today's Hoda Kotb
In April 2022, Harry sat down for an interview with Today's Hoda Kotb during the Invictus Games, claiming that he had visited his grandmother the Queen earlier to ensure she was "protected and got the right people around her."
April 2022: Launching eco-travel campaign with Travalyst
In April 2022, Prince Harry launched an eco-travel campaign through his non-profit Travalyst, encouraging sustainable travel, in a video featuring Rhys Darby and Dave Fane on Māori Television.
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: Reaction to Supreme Court Decision on Abortion
In June 2022, Meghan described Prince Harry's reaction to the Supreme Court's decision on abortion rights as "guttural" in an interview with Vogue.
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.
June 2022: First Official UK Appearance Since Stepping Down
In June 2022, Prince Harry and Meghan made their first official appearance in the UK since stepping down, attending the Platinum Jubilee National Service of Thanksgiving.
July 2022: Condemnation of Supreme Court Decision at the UN
In July 2022, Prince Harry condemned the Supreme Court's decision on abortion rights as a "rolling back of constitutional rights" during his address to the United Nations on Mandela Day.
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.
September 2022: Visit to UK and Germany and Queen Elizabeth II's Death
In September 2022, The Sussexes visited the UK and Germany for charity events. On September 8, 2022, while they were in London, Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, and they remained in the United Kingdom for her funeral.
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: Netflix docuseries release
In December 2022, Harry and Meghan's Netflix docuseries, "Harry & Meghan", was released.
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.
December 2022: Premiere of Harry & Meghan Docuseries
On December 8, 2022, Harry & Meghan, a docuseries about The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, produced by Netflix and the couple's Archewell Productions and directed by Liz Garbus, premiered on Netflix. The series received mixed reviews.
2022: End of Sunshine Sachs Representation
In 2022, Sunshine Sachs stopped representing The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
January 2023: Interviews Ahead of 'Spare' Release
In January 2023, Harry sat down for multiple interviews ahead of the release of his memoir Spare, including interviews by Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, Tom Bradby on ITV1, and Michael Strahan on Good Morning America. He expressed a desire to reconcile with his father and brother and criticized the press.
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.
January 2023: Publication of 'Spare'
On 10 January 2023, Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare' was officially published in 16 languages, becoming the UK's fastest-selling non-fiction book. Harry pledged $1.5 million to Sentebale and £300,000 to WellChild.
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.
March 2023: Gabor Maté Suggests Potential Diagnoses
In March 2023, physician Gabor Maté publicly suggested in a live-streamed interview that Harry could be suffering from PTSD, ADD, anxiety, and depression, based on their conversation and Maté's reading of Harry's autobiography, Spare.
March 2023: Heritage Foundation's Inquiry into Harry's Drug Use
In March 2023, the Heritage Foundation (HF) sent a dossier on Prince Harry's past drug use to government entities, questioning whether he admitted to it on his U.S. visa application.
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: Criticism of the UK Government in Witness Statement
In June 2023, Prince Harry broke royal protocol by criticising the UK government in a witness statement to a court, arguing the British press and government were "at rock bottom" and colluding to maintain the status quo.
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.
November 2023: Named global ambassador for Scotty's Little Soldiers
In November 2023, Prince Harry was named global ambassador for Scotty's Little Soldiers, one of the seven charities he and his wife had invited people to support in lieu of wedding presents.
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: Satirized in South Park
In 2023, Harry and Meghan's exit from the royal family was satirized in an episode of South Park.
2023: Appointment as Member of the Board of Directors
In 2023, Prince Harry was appointed a member of the board of directors of African Parks, after holding the position of president since 2017.
2023: Release of memoir
In his 2023 memoir, Prince Harry described himself as an agoraphobe, detailing his personal struggles with mental health and anxiety.
2023: Harry Discusses Relationship with Caroline Flack in Memoir
In his 2023 memoir, Prince Harry states that months after breaking up with Davy he was introduced to Caroline Flack. The two saw each other for a while before press intrusion "tainted" their relationship "irredeemably" according to Harry.
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.
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: Order 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.
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.
April 2024: New Netflix Shows Announced
In April 2024, it was announced that Archewell Productions is working with Netflix to produce two new shows – on lifestyle and on polo – for the streaming platform.
May 2024: Trip to Nigeria and Recognition for Travalyst
Following Harry and Meghan's trip to Nigeria in May 2024, it was suggested that the couple could have been used by the royal family. Harry's role as founder of Travalyst was recognized in the second edition of the Time Climate 100 list.
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.
September 2024: Closure of Visa Application Case
In September 2024, the Heritage Foundation's case regarding Prince Harry's visa application was closed due to sealed orders and a sealed memorandum opinion, with the HF subsequently requesting to vacate the ruling.
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".
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 in the settlements involving both Harry and former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson. NGN made a "full and unequivocal apology".
March 2025: Resignation from Sentebale
In March 2025, 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.
March 2025: Release of Redacted Court Documents
In March 2025, Judge Carl Nichols ordered the release of redacted versions of court documents related to Prince Harry's visa application by March 18, 2025, though his immigration status and drug use disclosure remained withheld.
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