Early Life and Education of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex: A Complete Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 15, 2026

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 member of the British royal family and the younger son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. He served for ten years in the British Armed Forces, completing two tours of duty in Afghanistan. In 2018, he married American actress Meghan Markle, with whom he shares two children. In 2020, the couple announced their decision to step back as senior working members of the royal family, eventually relocating to California to pursue financial independence and philanthropic endeavors. Harry has become a prominent advocate for mental health, veterans' causes, and environmental issues, notably founding the Invictus Games, an international sporting competition for wounded service personnel. His relationship with the media and the monarchy has been a subject of intense public scrutiny, further detailed in his 2023 memoir, Spare, and various media projects. He continues to balance his life as a private citizen with high-profile charitable work.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

18 September 2012: Relocation Following Camp Bastion Attack

On 18 September 2012, Prince Harry was moved to a more secure location following a deadly Taliban attack on Camp Bastion that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. Marines. Defense Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed the security measures while emphasizing that Harry remained at the same risk level as his fellow pilots.

September 1984: Birth of Prince Harry

On 15 September 1984, Prince Harry was born at 4:20 pm at St Mary's Hospital in London. He is the second son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, born during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

1985: First Overseas Royal Tour

In 1985, Prince Harry began accompanying his parents on official royal duties, marking the occasion of his very first overseas tour which took place in Italy.

1991: Family Trip to Canada

During 1991, Prince Harry traveled to Canada as part of a family trip, continuing his early exposure to international travel.

1996: Divorce of Charles and Diana

In 1996, the marriage between Prince Harry's parents, Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, officially ended in divorce.

1998: Second Visit to Canada

Prince Harry returned to Canada for another visit with his family in 1998, as part of his upbringing that emphasized a broad range of life experiences.

2002: Inheritance from Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother

In 2002, media reports detailed the inheritance structure for Prince Harry and Prince William regarding trust funds established by their great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. It was disclosed that the brothers would receive a combined disbursement of £4.9 million upon turning 21, followed by another £8 million at age 40, with Prince Harry expected to receive a larger portion of the total sum due to his brother's future role as monarch.

June 2003: Completion of Education at Eton

In June 2003, Prince Harry finished his secondary education at Eton College. He earned two A-Levels, specifically a B in art and a D in geography, after choosing to discontinue his studies in history of art. This period was later marked by controversy when a teacher alleged exam cheating, which was officially denied, though a tribunal noted he had received assistance with an 'expressive' project required for his admission to Sandhurst.

May 2005: Entry to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

On 8 May 2005, Prince Harry began his training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as Officer Cadet Wales, having previously dealt with a knee injury, and joined Alamein Company.

October 2006: Completion of Troop Leaders' Course

In October 2006, Prince Harry successfully completed the Troop Leaders' Course and rejoined his regiment in Windsor, where he assumed command of a troop of 11 soldiers and four Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles.

February 2007: Official Deployment Announcement to Iraq

On 22 February 2007, the Ministry of Defence and Clarence House jointly confirmed that Prince Harry would deploy to Iraq with the 1st Mechanised Brigade, following his firm stance that he would leave the army if he were not allowed to serve alongside his fellow soldiers.

April 2007: Decision for Harry's deployment to Iraq

On 30 April 2007, General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the British Army, personally decided that Prince Harry would serve as a troop commander with his unit in Iraq.

June 2007: Cancellation of deployment to Iraq

Although originally scheduled for deployment in June 2007, it was announced on 16 May 2007 that Prince Harry would not serve in Iraq due to safety concerns regarding his status as a high-value target and the potential risk to his fellow soldiers.

June 2007: Deployment Training in Canada

In June 2007, Prince Harry traveled to CFB Suffield in Alberta, Canada, to undergo military training with soldiers from the British Army and the Canadian Forces. This training was conducted in preparation for a potential deployment to the ongoing NATO-led Afghan War.

February 2008: Revelation of Afghan Deployment

In February 2008, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that Prince Harry had spent the previous ten weeks serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, as a joint terminal attack controller. The disclosure occurred prematurely due to media breaches by Bild and New Idea, forcing his immediate extraction for security reasons.

October 2008: Announcement of Helicopter Pilot Training

In October 2008, it was officially announced that Prince Harry would begin training to fly military helicopters, continuing a family tradition alongside his father, brother, and uncle.

October 2011: Helicopter Gunship Training in the United States

In October 2011, Prince Harry relocated to a U.S. military base in California to finalize his helicopter gunship training. Throughout the month, he participated in live-fire exercises and judgment drills in California and Arizona, ultimately graduating at the top of his class at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, California.

November 2011: Completion of Apache Helicopter Training

Following his return to England in November 2011, Prince Harry reported to Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk to conclude his specialized training for operating Apache helicopters.

2014: Inheritance of Princess Diana's Estate

In 2014, Prince Harry and Prince William received their share of their mother's estate, which had grown to approximately £10 million each. Additionally, they acquired personal possessions belonging to Princess Diana, including her wedding dress, various jewelry pieces such as diamond tiaras, letters, and artwork, as well as original musical artifacts associated with her funeral in 2014.

2016: Launch of Heads Together

In 2016, Prince Harry co-founded the mental health awareness initiative known as Heads Together alongside Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales.

2018: Creation of the Duke of Sussex title and wedding

In 2018, Prince Harry was formally created Duke of Sussex by the Queen immediately preceding his marriage to the American actress Meghan Markle.

January 2020: Stepping back from royal duties and relocation

In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their decision to step back from their positions as senior working royals and subsequently moved their family to Southern California, where they founded the organization Archewell Inc.

7 September 2012: Deployment to Camp Bastion

On 7 September 2012, Prince Harry arrived at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan to begin a four-month combat deployment serving as an Apache helicopter co-pilot and gunner with the 662 Squadron.