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 currently stands fifth in line to the British throne. He served in the British Army, undertaking tours in Afghanistan. In 2018, he married Meghan Markle, an American actress. In 2020, Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior members of the Royal Family, relocating to North America. They have since pursued various philanthropic and commercial ventures, including the Archewell Foundation and Archewell Productions. Harry has been vocal about his struggles with mental health and his relationship with the media and his family.
February 1960: Father declared member of the House of Windsor
On February 8, 1960, Prince Harry's paternal grandmother, Elizabeth II, issued letters patent declaring his father to be a member of the House of Windsor.
September 1984: Birth at St Mary's Hospital
In September 1984, Prince Harry was born at 4:20 pm at St Mary's Hospital, London, during the reign of his paternal grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. He was the second child of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales.
May 1988: Surgery for minor hernia
In May 1988, Prince Harry underwent surgery for a minor hernia.
1996: Parents' Divorce
In 1996, Prince Harry's parents, Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, divorced.
1998: Family Trip to Canada
November 2000: Thumb injury
In November 2000, Prince Harry broke his thumb while playing football at Eton and required a minor operation.
2001: Smoking cannabis and drinking
In the summer of 2001, Prince Harry was reportedly smoking cannabis and drinking at his father's Highgrove House and at a local pub.
2002: Visit to drug-rehabilitation unit
In 2002, Prince Harry visited a drug-rehabilitation unit to speak with recovering drug addicts after it emerged that he had been smoking cannabis and drinking in the summer of 2001.
2002: Report of Trust Fund Disbursement
In 2002, it was reported that Prince Harry and his brother would share a disbursement of £4.9 million from trust funds established by their great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, on their 21st birthdays, and a further £8 million on their 40th birthdays. It was also reported that Harry would inherit the larger share of the money left by the Queen Mother for the two brothers.
June 2003: Completion of Education at Eton
In June 2003, Prince Harry completed his education at Eton with two A-Levels, achieving a grade B in art and a D in geography.
2003: Nickname given in Lesotho
In 2003, while on his gap year in Lesotho, Prince Harry was given the nickname Mohale (meaning 'the warrior'), a name belonging to the younger brother of Moshoeshoe I.
September 2004: Passing 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, Prince Harry first toured the Mants'ase Children's Home near Mohale's Hoek in Lesotho.
January 2005: "She's not black or anything" comment
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
In May 2005, Prince Harry entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as Officer Cadet Wales.
2005: Start of army service
In 2005, Prince Harry began his 10 years (2005–2015) in the army.
2005: Nazi Uniform Controversy and Apology
In early 2005, Prince Harry was photographed wearing a Nazi German Afrika Korps uniform with a swastika armband at a themed birthday party. This caused a media backlash, and Clarence House issued a public apology from Harry who said he had learnt his lesson.
April 2006: Commissioned as Cornet in Blues and Royals
In April 2006, Prince Harry completed his officer training and was commissioned as a Cornet (second lieutenant) 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 Prince Harry's Engagements
From 2006 to 2019, Harry completed 1,190 engagements.
2006: Visit to Mants'ase Children's Home and Launch of Sentebale
In 2006, Prince Harry visited Mants'ase Children's Home in Lesotho and, with Prince Seeiso, launched Sentebale: The Princes' Fund for Lesotho, a charity to aid children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
October 2007: Video Surfaces Showing Prince Harry Snorting Vodka
In October 2007, a video from Prince Harry's trip to Namibia surfaced, showing him snorting vodka and licking a male friend's nipples.
2007: Organized 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: Deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan
In 2007, Prince Harry was deployed for ten weeks in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, marking his active service in the military.
February 2008: Deployment to Afghanistan Revealed
In February 2008, the Ministry of Defence revealed that Prince Harry had been secretly deployed as a joint terminal attack controller to Helmand Province in Afghanistan for the previous ten weeks. He was immediately withdrawn due to publicity concerns.
April 2008: Promotion to Lieutenant
In April 2008, Prince Harry was promoted to lieutenant in the Blues and Royals.
May 2008: Awarded Operational Service Medal
In May 2008, Princess Anne presented Prince Harry with the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan at Combermere Barracks.
October 2008: Enduro Africa motorbike ride
In October 2008, Prince Harry and his brother 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: Announcement of Helicopter Training
In October 2008, it was announced that Prince Harry would follow his brother, father, and uncle in learning to fly military helicopters.
November 2008: Allegation of Racist Comment to Stephen K. Amos
In November 2008, British comedian Stephen K. Amos alleged that Prince Harry commented on his performance after a show for Prince Charles's 60th birthday celebrations, saying, "You don't sound like a black chap."
2008: End of Helmand Province Deployment
In 2008, Prince Harry concluded his ten-week deployment in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
January 2009: Video of Racist and Homophobic Remarks Revealed
In January 2009, the News of the World revealed a video made by Prince Harry three years earlier, in which he used racist and homophobic slurs. Clarence House issued an apology from Harry, and it was reported that the military instructed him to attend a diversity course.
January 2009: The Queen grants Harry and William their own royal household
On 6 January 2009, the Queen granted Harry and William their own royal household. Previously, their affairs were handled by their father's office at Clarence House.
February 2009: Failed Pilot's Theory Test
In February 2009, Prince Harry initially failed his pilot's theory test.
September 2009: Set 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.
May 2010: Awarded Flying Brevet
On 7 May 2010, Prince Charles presented Prince Harry with his flying brevet (wings) at a ceremony at the Army Air Corps Base (AAC) at Middle Wallop.
2010: Vice-Royal Patron of the RFU
In 2010, Prince Harry had served as the RFU's vice-royal patron since 2010, 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 and promoted to captain.
June 2011: Availability for Deployment as Apache Pilot
In June 2011, it was announced that Prince Harry would be available for deployment in current operations in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter pilot.
October 2011: Transfer to US Military Base
In October 2011, Prince Harry was transferred to a United States military base in California to complete his helicopter gunship training.
May 2012: Harry participates in music video for the song "Sing"
In May 2012, Harry played tambourine and took part in the music video for the song "Sing", which was released to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee.
September 2012: Arrival at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan
On 7 September 2012, Prince Harry arrived at Camp Bastion in southern Afghanistan as part of the 100-strong 662 Squadron, 3 Regiment, Army Air Corps, to begin a four-month combat tour as a co-pilot and gunner for an Apache helicopter.
2012: Launch of Coach Core
In 2012, Prince Harry launched Coach Core alongside his brother and sister-in-law, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The program was set up following the 2012 Olympics and provides apprenticeship opportunities for people who desire to pursue a career as a professional coach.
2012: Deployment with the Army Air Corps
In 2012, Prince Harry was deployed for twenty weeks with the Army Air Corps in Afghanistan.
January 2013: Return from Afghanistan Deployment
On 21 January 2013, it was announced that Prince Harry was returning from a 20-week deployment in Afghanistan.
May 2013: Harry makes official visit to the US
Between 9 and 15 May 2013, Harry made an official visit to the US to promote the rehabilitation of injured American and UK troops, publicise his own charities, and support British interests.
June 2013: DNA confirms Indian descent
In June 2013, BritainsDNA announced that genealogical DNA tests on two of Prince Harry and Prince William's distant matrilineal cousins confirmed that Eliza Kewark was matrilineally of Indian descent.
July 2013: Qualified as Apache Aircraft Commander
On 8 July 2013, the Ministry of Defence announced that Prince Harry had successfully qualified as an Apache aircraft commander.
October 2013: Harry undertakes official tour of Australia
In October 2013, Harry undertook his first official tour of Australia, attending the International Fleet Review at Sydney Harbour and visiting the Australian SAS HQ in Perth.
December 2013: Expedition to the South Pole
In December 2013, Prince Harry joined Walking With The Wounded'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: End of Army Air Corps Deployment
In 2013, Prince Harry concluded his twenty-week deployment with the Army Air Corps in Afghanistan.
2013: Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz meets Prince Harry
In 2013, Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz met Prince Harry.
March 2014: Launch of Invictus Games
On 6 March 2014, Prince Harry launched the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style sporting event for injured servicemen and women, scheduled to be held later that year.
April 2014: Meeting British hopefuls for the Invictus Games
On 29 April 2014, Prince Harry met British hopefuls for the Invictus Games at Tedworth House in Wiltshire, marking the start of the selection process.
May 2014: Attendance to Invictus Games ticket-sale launch
On 15 May 2014, Prince Harry attended a ticket-sale launch for the Invictus Games at the BT Tower, and promoted the event on the Games' official Twitter account as its president.
August 2014: Attendance to British Armed Forces Team announcement for the 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: Attendance to Invictus Games
From 8 to 14 September 2014, Prince Harry attended all events related to the Invictus Games competition in his role as president.
November 2014: Harry opens the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey
On 6 November 2014, Harry opened the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, a task usually performed by Prince Philip.
2014: Inheritance of Diana's Possessions
In 2014, Prince Harry and Prince William inherited Diana's wedding dress and many of her personal possessions, including dresses, diamond tiaras, jewellery, letters, and paintings.
2014: Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz meets Prince Harry again
In 2014, Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz met Prince Harry again.
2014: Founding of the Invictus Games
In 2014, inspired by the Warrior Games, Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women.
April 2015: Harry visits Australian War Memorial and joins father in Turkey for Gallipoli Campaign commemorations
In April 2015, Harry visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra before reporting for duty to the Australian Defence Force. He also joined his father in Turkey to attend commemorations of the centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign.
May 2015: Harry makes farewell walkabout at Sydney Opera House
On 7 May 2015, Harry made a farewell walkabout at the Sydney Opera House and visited Macquarie University Hospital.
October 2015: Harry launches Invictus Games Orlando 2016 with First Lady and Second Lady
In October 2015, Harry carried out engagements in the US, launching the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 with First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Jill Biden at Fort Belvoir.
October 2015: Walk of Britain
On 30 September and 20 October 2015, as patron of Walk of Britain, Prince Harry walked with the team.
November 2015: Harry attends opening of the Mamohato Children's Centre in Lesotho
In November 2015, Harry, as patron of Sentebale, traveled to Lesotho to attend the opening of the Mamohato Children's Centre.
December 2015: Harry visits South Africa and presents insignia of the Order of the Companions of Honour
From 30 November to 3 December 2015, 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 on behalf of the Queen.
2015: End of army service
In 2015, Prince Harry ended his 10 years (2005–2015) in the army.
2015: Harry Severs 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.
January 2016: Taking magic mushrooms at Courteney Cox's house
In January 2016, Prince Harry recounts taking magic mushrooms at a party at Courteney Cox's house in his memoir Spare.
March 2016: Harry visits Nepal
From 19-23 March 2016, Harry visited Nepal. He stayed until the end of March 2016 to help rebuild a secondary school with Team Rubicon UK and visited a Hydropower Project in Central Nepal.
July 2016: Raising HIV awareness
On July 14, 2016, Prince Harry took an HIV test live on the royal family Facebook page to raise awareness for HIV testing. Later, on July 21, 2016, he attended the 21st International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa.
2016: Co-founding of Heads Together
In 2016, Prince Harry, along with Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, co-founded Heads Together, a mental health awareness initiative.
January 2017: Visit to 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, during which the UK government announced an increase in its financial support for de-mining efforts.
September 2017: First public appearance with Meghan Markle
In September 2017, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first public appearance together at the Invictus Games in Toronto.
November 2017: Engagement announcement
On 27 November 2017, Prince Harry's father announced his engagement to Meghan Markle, prompting positive commentary, especially in Commonwealth countries.
December 2017: Guest Editing BBC Radio 4's Today Programme
In December 2017, Prince Harry guest edited BBC Radio 4's Today programme, conducting interviews with his father, former US president Barack Obama, and others on issues such as youth violence, the Armed Forces, mental health, the Commonwealth, conservation and the environment.
2017: Harry discusses mental health struggles
In 2017, Harry revealed on Bryony Gordon's podcast Mad World that he sought counselling after his mother's death, with his brother's support. He admitted to struggling with aggression, anxiety during royal engagements, and being close to a breakdown. He also used boxing to manage stress, and alongside therapy, he coped with alcohol and experimental drugs.
2017: Statement about godchildren
In 2017, Prince Harry stated that he had "five or six" godchildren.
April 2018: Harry appointed Commonwealth youth ambassador and patron of Walk of America
In April 2018, Harry was appointed Commonwealth youth ambassador. Also in April, he became a patron of Walk of America. The Prince was appointed the president of The Queen's Commonwealth Trust in April.
May 2018: Reported lease on WestfieldLarge
In May 2018, it was reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had signed a two-year lease on WestfieldLarge, located on the Great Tew Estate in the Cotswolds, but they later gave up the lease after photographs of the house were published.
May 2018: Wedding and Duke of Sussex title
On 19 May 2018, Queen Elizabeth II conferred the title of Duke of Sussex upon Harry. He married Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, who became Duchess of Sussex.
July 2018: Harry and Meghan travel to Dublin
In July 2018, Harry travelled to Dublin, Ireland, alongside his wife Meghan, which marked their first overseas visit as a couple.
July 2018: Announcement of MenStar Coalition
In July 2018, the Elton John AIDS Foundation announced that Prince Harry and Elton John were about to launch a global coalition called MenStar that would focus "on treating HIV infections in men".
October 2018: Harry and Meghan travel to Sydney for the 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.
2018: Named One of Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2018, Prince Harry was selected as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time magazine.
April 2019: Last time RAVEC assessed Prince Harry's threat level
In April 2019, was the last time RAVEC assessed Prince Harry's threat level until December 2025.
May 2019: Launch of Shout
In May 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan, along with Prince William and Kate, launched Shout, the UK's first 24/7 text messaging service for those who suffer from mental issues.
May 2019: Birth of son, Archie
On 6 May 2019, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's son, Archie, was born.
June 2019: Left the charity
In June 2019, Prince Harry left the charity The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.
June 2019: Launch of Made by Sport
In June 2019, Prince Harry was present at the launch of Made by Sport, a charity coalition set to raise money to boost sport in disadvantaged communities. He lent his support to the charity by arguing that its role in bringing sport into the life of disadvantaged people would save "hundreds of millions of pounds" towards treating the issues among young people.
June 2019: Split from The Royal Foundation
In June 2019, it was announced that Prince Harry and Meghan would split from The Royal Foundation and establish their own charity foundation by the end of 2019.
June 2019: Royal Family's Increased Carbon Footprint
In June 2019, the royal family faced criticism after it was revealed that they "had doubled [their] carbon footprint from business travel".
August 2019: Criticism for Private Jet Journeys
In August 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan were criticized for taking four private jet journeys in 11 days, raising questions about their environmental activism.
September 2019: Launch of Travalyst
In September 2019, Prince Harry launched Travalyst during his visit to the Netherlands after two years of development. The initiative is set "to encourage sustainable practices in the travel industry" and "tackle climate change and environmental damage", in collaboration with a number of companies, including Tripadvisor, Booking.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Visa Inc.
September 2019: Visit to Angola de-mining site
In September 2019, Prince Harry walked through a de-mining site in Angola, the same country visited by his mother 22 years earlier.
October 2019: Southern African tour included Malawi, Angola, South Africa and Botswana.
In September and October 2019, Harry and Meghan went on a Southern African tour that included Malawi, Angola, South Africa and Botswana. Because infant son Archie traveled with the Sussexes, this was "their first official tour as a family".
November 2019: Interview with Gareth Thomas
In November 2019, Prince Harry interviewed HIV+ Rugby player Gareth Thomas on behalf of the Terrence Higgins Trust to mark the National HIV Testing Week.
2019: Presentation at Challenge Cup Finals
In 2019, Prince Harry presented the trophy at rugby league's Challenge Cup finals.
January 2020: Announcement of stepping back from royal duties
In January 2020, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would step back from royal duties and, from March 31, 2020, would no longer use their Royal Highness styles in practice or publicly.
January 2020: The Sun publishes story about Megxit
In January 2020, Dan Wootton broke the story about Megxit and Harry and Meghan's initial plans for moving to Canada in The Sun, which prompted the couple to issue an announcement within hours, confirming their plans for stepping back from their royal duties.
January 2020: Harry pranked by Russian comedy duo
In January 2020, Harry was pranked by the Russian comedy duo Vovan and Lexus, posing as climate activist Greta Thunberg and her father during two phone calls. During the conversations, Harry described his decision to leave the monarchy as "not easy" and criticised Donald Trump's stance on climate change and his support for the coal industry.
January 2020: Stepping back as senior members of the royal family
In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step back as senior members of the royal family, aiming to balance their time between the United Kingdom and North America. They would become financially independent and cease representing the Queen.
January 2020: Decision to step back announced after Quibi talks
In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step back from royal duties, following talks in summer 2019 with Jeffrey Katzenberg about a role in Quibi, which they ultimately declined.
January 2020: Stepping Back from Royal Roles
In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles as working members of the royal family and relocated to Southern California.
January 2020: IPSO Sides with Mail on Sunday in Elephant Photo Dispute
In January 2020, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) sided with the Mail on Sunday over a dispute with Prince Harry regarding an Instagram photo involving elephants that were described as "tranquilised" and "tethered".
February 2020: Recording of "Unbroken" with Jon Bon Jovi
In February 2020, Prince Harry recorded a new version of the song "Unbroken" with Jon Bon Jovi, featuring backing vocals from members of the Invictus Choir.
February 2020: "Sussex Royal" Brand Name Ban
On February 21, 2020, it was confirmed that "Sussex Royal" would not be used as a brand name for Prince Harry and Meghan following their withdrawal from public life.
March 2020: Harry's tenure as Commonwealth youth ambassador ends
In March 2020, Harry's tenure as Commonwealth youth ambassador ended.
March 2020: Final solo engagement as senior royal and Commonwealth Day service
In March 2020, Prince Harry attended the opening of the Silverstone Experience and on 9 March 2020, Harry and Meghan attended the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, which was their last engagement as a couple before officially stepping down on 31 March.
March 2020: Cessation of Royal Highness styles in practice or publicly
In March 2020, as previously announced in January, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ceased using their Royal Highness styles in practice or publicly following their decision to step back from royal duties.
March 2020: Loss of publicly funded security
In March 2020, the Government of Canada announced RCMP security would not be provided after the couple's status changed. A similar petition circulated in the UK and the US asserted they would not pay either. This came after Harry and Meghan announced their self-demotion within the royal family.
March 2020: Office closure at Buckingham Palace
On 31 March 2020, the Sussexes' office at Buckingham Palace officially closed as they ceased "undertaking official engagements in support of the Queen".
April 2020: Announcement 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
In April 2020, Prince Harry launched a new initiative named HeadFIT, a platform designed to provide mental support for members of the armed forces. The initiative was developed mutually by the Royal Foundation's Heads Together campaign, the Ministry of Defence, and King's College London.
June 2020: Backing the Stop Hate for Profit Campaign
In June 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan backed the Stop Hate for Profit campaign and encouraged CEOs of different companies to join the movement.
June 2020: Purchase of house in Montecito
In June 2020, after several months in Canada and the US, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex bought a house in Montecito, California, on the former estate of Riven Rock.
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: Harry and his wife urge American voters to reject hate speech
In September 2020, Harry and his wife released a video addressing American voters, urging them to reject hate speech, misinformation, and online negativity in the 2020 United States presidential election.
October 2020: Launch of Archewell Website
In October 2020, the website for the Archewell Foundation was officially launched.
December 2020: Lawsuit Against Associated Newspapers Limited
In December 2020, Prince Harry's legal team sued Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) for publishing a false story in the Mail on Sunday about his relationship with the Royal Marines. The newspaper apologized and paid "substantial damages" which were donated to the Invictus Games Foundation.
February 2021: Relinquishing military appointments
In February 2021, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Duke of Sussex would give up his position as Captain General Royal Marines and relinquish all his other honorary military appointments.
February 2021: Harry steps down as president of The Queen's Commonwealth Trust
In February 2021, Harry stepped down as the president of The Queen's Commonwealth Trust.
February 2021: Honorary military appointments returned
In February 2021, Prince Harry's honorary military appointments were returned to Queen Elizabeth II.
March 2021: Interview with Oprah Winfrey
In March 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan gave a widely publicised interview to Oprah Winfrey on "Oprah with Meghan and Harry".
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 in a "regulatory and compliance case" regarding its conduct under charity law during dissolution.
March 2021: End of review period
In March 2021, the twelve-month review period for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's formal roles concluded.
March 2021: Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah Winfrey
On March 7, 2021, Harry and Meghan were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in a television special for CBS. Meghan spoke about marriage, motherhood, and the pressures of public life. Harry joined her later, and the pair talked about the initial difficulties associated with their move to the US in 2020 and their plans for the future. During the interview, Harry criticised his father's parenting style, mentioned his father did not answer his calls and had cut him off financially, and he had no relationship with his brother.
April 2021: Vax Live Campaign Chairs
In April 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan were announced as campaign chairs for Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World, an event organised by Global Citizen to increase access to COVID-19 vaccinations. They also announced their support for a vaccine equity fundraiser initiated by the same organisation, and penned an open letter to the pharmaceutical industry CEOs urging them to address the vaccine equity crisis. He also narrated "Hope Starts Here", a special video rereleased by African Parks to mark the Earth Day in which he urged organisations and communities to preserve biodiversity and paid tribute to his grandfather Prince Philip for his efforts as a conservationist.
May 2021: Harry discusses freedom of speech on Armchair Expert podcast
In May 2021, Harry appeared on Dax Shepard and Monica Padman's podcast Armchair Expert, where he discussed freedom of speech and related laws in the US, saying it was bonkers and that he didn't understand it. His comments drew criticism from various conservative American public figures and British politician Nigel Farage.
May 2021: Support for Peak State
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, which he helped establish.
June 2021: Statement on HALO Trust attack
In June 2021, after ten members of the HALO Trust were killed by an armed group at a mine clearance camp in Afghanistan, Prince Harry issued a statement saying the attack "was nothing less than an act of barbarism".
June 2021: Controversy over Lilibet's name
In June 2021, despite the palace congratulating the Duke and Duchess on the birth of their daughter Lilibet, the BBC reported that Harry and Meghan had not sought the Queen's permission before naming their daughter with her personal family nickname, leading to accusations of defamation by the couple.
June 2021: Birth of daughter, Lilibet
On 4 June 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's daughter, Lilibet, was born.
August 2021: Backlash for Private Jet Flight to Polo Tournament
In August 2021, Prince 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: Start of legal fight over police protection
In September 2021, Prince Harry began a legal fight with the Home Office over their refusal to allow him to pay for police protection while in the UK.
September 2021: Hosting Warrior Games Virtual Event
In September 2021, Prince Harry, together with First Lady Jill Biden, hosted a virtual event for the Warrior Games, which were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 2021: Speaking against oil drilling in Okavango River
In October 2021, Prince Harry spoke against oil drilling in the Okavango River in an op-ed for The Washington Post.
November 2021: Harry warns Twitter CEO about potential civil unrest
In November 2021, Harry stated that he emailed Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter, the day before the January 6 United States Capitol attack to warn of potential civil unrest but received no response. In the same month, Conservative MP Johnny Mercer mentioned that the Duke of Sussex supported waiving visa fees for foreign-born UK veterans and their families.
December 2021: Reports Emerge About Meetings 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 CBE receipt became the subject of an investigation. Harry referred to the incident as the "CBE scandal".
2021: Private exchange of vows revealed
In 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed in a television interview with Oprah that, three days before their official wedding ceremony in May 2018, they had privately exchanged vows in their garden.
2021: Reflection on army service
In 2021, Prince Harry described his 10 years (2005–2015) in the army as "the happiest times in my life".
2021: Stepped down from MapAction and the London Marathon Charitable Trust
In 2021, Prince Harry stepped down from MapAction and the London Marathon Charitable Trust, where he had previously granted his patronage.
2021: Featured on Time 100 Cover
In 2021, Prince Harry was selected as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time magazine and the couple was featured on one of the magazine's seven worldwide Time 100 covers.
2021: Harry discusses mental health struggles
In 2021, in his mental-health documentary, The Me You Can't See, Harry disclosed that he underwent four years of therapy due to encouragement from his future wife, and suffered from panic attacks and severe anxiety in his late 20s, eventually leading to burnout from official duties.
January 2022: RAVEC decision on state security
In January 2022, RAVEC stated that State security could not be made available to private individuals even if they wished to pay for it themselves.
January 2022: Legal fight over police protection reported
In January 2022, it was reported that Prince Harry had been in a legal fight since September 2021 over the Home Office's refusal to allow him to pay for police protection in the UK.
February 2022: Libel Suit Filed Against Associated Newspapers Limited
In February 2022, Prince Harry filed a libel suit in the High Court against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) for a Mail on Sunday article alleging he tried to keep his legal battle with the Home Office secret.
March 2022: Signing open letter for vaccine equity
In March 2022, Prince Harry and Meghan were among more than a hundred people who signed an open letter published by the People's Vaccine Alliance, asking for free global access to COVID-19 vaccines and calling out the UK, EU and Switzerland for opposing a waiver that would allow vaccine intellectual property protections to be lifted.
March 2022: High Court ruling on private case information
In March 2022, the High Court ruled that some parts of Prince Harry's case against the Home Office 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: Launch of eco-travel campaign
In April 2022, Prince Harry launched an eco-travel campaign through his non-profit Travalyst, encouraging people to travel sustainably in a video featuring Rhys Darby and Dave Fane on Māori Television.
April 2022: Harry interview with Today's Hoda Kotb during Invictus Games
In April 2022, Prince Harry sat down for an interview with Today's Hoda Kotb during the Invictus Games, during which he claimed that he had visited his grandmother the Queen earlier to make sure that she was "protected and got the right people around her."
June 2022: Private Jet to California after Platinum Jubilee
In June 2022, Prince Harry and Meghan boarded a private jet to California after the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, which was estimated to have emitted "ten times more carbon than flying commercial".
June 2022: First official appearance in the UK since stepping down
In June 2022, Prince Harry and Meghan made their first official appearance in the UK since stepping down as senior royals, attending the Platinum Jubilee National Service of Thanksgiving.
June 2022: Meghan describes Harry's reaction to the Supreme Court abortion decision
In June 2022, in an interview with Jessica Yellin for Vogue, Meghan described Harry's reaction to the Supreme Court of the United States's decision that abortion is not a constitutionally protected right as guttural.
July 2022: Harry criticises the Supreme Court abortion ruling at the United Nations
In July 2022, Harry criticized the Supreme Court's abortion ruling as a rolling back of constitutional rights in his address to the United Nations on Mandela Day. Associate justice Samuel Alito later criticized foreign figures, including Harry, for commenting on "American law" during a public speech.
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 that State security could not be made available to private individuals.
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 8 September 2022, while in London, Queen Elizabeth II died, and Harry and Meghan remained in the United Kingdom for her funeral.
December 2022: Appearance in Harry & Meghan Documentary
In December 2022, Prince Harry and Meghan appeared in the Netflix documentary series "Harry & Meghan".
December 2022: Ranked Among Most Disliked Royals
In December 2022, YouGov found Prince Harry to be the third most disliked member of the British royal family.
January 2023: Harry participates in multiple interviews ahead of memoir release
In January 2023, Prince Harry sat down for a series of interviews ahead of the release of his memoir Spare, including interviews with Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, Tom Bradby on ITV1, Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, and Michael Strahan on Good Morning America.
January 2023: Memoir Spare revelations and subsequent criticism
In January 2023, Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" was published, in which he revealed he killed 25 Taliban members during his six missions and felt he was trained to view them as "chess pieces". This prompted criticism from Taliban members, British politicians, and military figures, and led to security concerns for ex-forces personnel in Kabul.
February 2023: Case against the Home Office initially thrown out
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: Physician suggests Harry could be suffering from mental health issues
In March 2023, physician Gabor Maté publicly suggested that Prince Harry could be suffering from PTSD, ADD, anxiety, and depression based on a live-streamed conversation with him and having read his autobiography Spare.
March 2023: The Heritage Foundation sends dossier on Harry's past drug use to government entities
In March 2023, the Heritage Foundation (HF) sent a dossier on Harry's past drug use to various government entities, inquiring if he disclosed such use on his U.S. visa application. The following month, the organization filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeking access to his immigration records.
May 2023: Lost 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.
June 2023: Harry criticises the UK government in court statement
In June 2023, Harry broke with royal protocol by criticising the UK government in a witness statement submitted to a court, arguing that both the British press and the government were at rock bottom.
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.
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 which he and his wife had invited people to support in lieu of giving them wedding presents.
December 2023: Motion Rejected and Case Proceeded to Trial
In December 2023, a judge rejected Prince Harry's motion to have the publisher's defence thrown out in the libel case against the Mail on Sunday, deciding that the case should proceed to trial.
2023: Named One of the Most Intriguing People of the Year by People
In 2023, People named Prince Harry as one of the "25 Most Intriguing People of the Year".
2023: Satirized in South Park
In 2023, Prince Harry and Meghan's exit from the royal family was satirized in an episode of South Park.
2023: Publication of Spare
In 2023, Prince Harry published his memoir, "Spare".
2023: Harry describes himself as an agoraphobe in his memoir
In his 2023 memoir, Harry described himself as an agoraphobe.
2023: Relationship with Caroline Flack revealed in memoir
In his 2023 memoir, Prince Harry revealed that months after breaking up with Chelsy Davy, he was introduced to Caroline Flack. They saw each other for a while before press intrusion "tainted" their relationship.
January 2024: Libel Claim Withdrawn
In January 2024, Prince Harry withdrew the libel claim against the Mail on Sunday and became liable for the publisher's £250,000 legal costs.
February 2024: High Court ruled 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: Named in Lawsuit Against P. Diddy
In March 2024, Prince Harry was named in a lawsuit against P. Diddy, who was facing allegations of sexual trafficking, as a celebrity associate used to attract guests to parties.
March 2024: U.S. government ordered to provide Harry's visa application materials
In March 2024, the U.S. government was ordered to provide Harry's visa-application materials to a D.C. court, following an earlier unsuccessful freedom‑of‑information request submitted by the HF.
April 2024: Lost an initial attempt to appeal the Home Office ruling
In April 2024, Prince Harry lost an initial attempt to appeal against the High Court ruling in his case against the Home Office. During the proceedings it was also revealed he had leaked information and had to apologise to the court.
May 2024: Trip to Nigeria and Recognition for Travalyst
Following Prince Harry and Meghan's trip to Nigeria in May 2024, it was argued that the couple could have been used by the royal family. In the same year Harry's role as founder of Travalyst was recognised in the second edition of the Time 100 Climate list.
May 2024: Given permission to challenge the High Court's decision
In May 2024, Prince Harry was given permission by the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court's decision in his case against the Home Office.
September 2024: Case closed regarding Harry's visa application materials
In September 2024, the case was closed regarding Harry's visa application materials after two sealed orders and a sealed "memorandum opinion" were filed.
January 2025: Appearance at a Food Bank
In January 2025, Prince Harry and Meghan's appearance at a food bank during the Southern California wildfires in the Pacific Palisades drew mixed reactions, with some labeling it "disaster tourism".
February 2025: Donald Trump rules out deporting Harry
In February 2025, U.S. president Donald Trump stated that he would not deport Harry.
March 2025: Resignation from Sentebale Patron Roles
In March 2025, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned from their roles as patrons of Sentebale following a dispute among trustees and the board chair, Sophie Chandauka, who reported concerns of poor governance, abuse of power, and harassment to the Charity Commission.
March 2025: Redacted versions of court documents to be released
Judge Carl Nichols ordered that redacted versions of the court documents pertaining to Harry's visa application be released by 18 March 2025.
May 2025: Harry reflects on loss of security and family estrangement
In May 2025, Prince Harry was interviewed by the BBC where he reflected on the loss of his taxpayer-funded security and his ongoing estrangement from his family. A writer for The Guardian commented that Harry's public approach was ineffective and his security needs were not a priority.
May 2025: Appeal was rejected by three senior judges
In May 2025, Prince Harry's appeal was rejected by three senior judges and he was likely to be held liable for the UK government's legal fees.
August 2025: Charity Commission's Findings on Sentebale
In August 2025, the Charity Commission announced that they found no evidence of widespread bullying or harassment involving Prince Harry or Sophie Chandauka at Sentebale but acknowledged a perception of ill-treatment and criticized all parties for the public conflict and poor internal governance.
October 2025: Ranked Among Most Disliked Celebrities in the US
In October 2025, Ranker rated Prince Harry the third most disliked celebrity in the United States.
December 2025: Appearance on the Late Show and critical comments
In December 2025, Prince Harry appeared on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and made mocking comments seen as critical of U.S. President Donald Trump, contributing to the controversy surrounding the show's cancellation.
December 2025: RAVEC to reassess Harry's threat level
In December 2025, it was announced that, for the first time since April 2019, RAVEC would reassess Prince Harry's threat level. The decision followed a private letter he had sent to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood earlier in the year.
January 2026: Remarks on NATO troops in Afghanistan
In January 2026, Prince Harry emphasized the need to speak about the sacrifices of NATO troops in Afghanistan truthfully and with respect, in response to comments made by US President Donald Trump.
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