Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Henry Charles Albert David
His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales (Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor) (born September 15, 1984), nicknamed Prince Harry, is a member of the British Royal Family, a grandson of Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Harry is third in the line of succession to the British throne.
Prince Harry is famous for being the carefree and rebellious member of the Royal Family.
Birth
Prince Harry was born on September 15, 1984 at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, in central London. His father is His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His mother is the late Diana, Princess of Wales, the former wife of the Prince of Wales who died in 1997. He has an elder brother, HRH Prince William. As a grandchild of the British monarch in the male line, he was styled His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and called Harry by his family.
Education
Prince Harry attended the Mrs Jane Mynors' nursery school in west London, the same as his brother. He later followed his brother to at the pre-prep Wetherby School, and later to Ludgrove School in Berkshire. He later attended the prestigious Eton College in Windsor. In June 2003, Prince Harry finished Eton with two A-levels in Geography and Art.
At school, Prince Harry developed his love of sport, particularly polo and rugby. He has also participated in the Eton Wall Game.
Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
On 31 August, 1997 Prince Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales was killed in a car accident in Paris, France. Her death came days after she spent a holiday in Southern France with both Prince William and Prince Harry. Both princes were staying with the Queen at Balmoral Castle at the time and were woken from their sleep by their father, Charles, to be told the tragic news.
At Diana's funeral, Prince Harry accompanied his father and brother and his grandfather, Prince Philip, and his uncle, the Earl Spencer to walk behind Diana's funeral cortege from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. On Diana's coffin was a card from Harry, written out to Mummy. Both William and Harry were praised for their strength shown on that day.
During his eulogy, the Earl Spencer, promised that the Spencer family would take an active interest in looking after Diana's children, although Harry saw little of him and Diana's mother in later years.
Controversy
Unlike his shy brother, Prince Harry has made constant media headlines for bad behaviour. In January, 2002, it was revealed that the prince had admitted smoking marijuana and allegedly engaged in underage drinking, in the summer of 2001, prompting tabloid headlines worldwide and the possibility of criminal charges being filed against him. Ultimately, a police investigation cleared Harry of wrongdoing. During the controversy, Prince Charles was praised for his handling of the situation, which included Prince Harry's visit to a drug rehabilitation facility in London.
The basement of the Prince of Wales' Highgrove home is rumoured to be nicknamed Club H, an intimate and private nightclub for Harry and his friends.
Future
After finishing Eton, Prince Harry undertook a gap year, visiting Australia and Africa. In Australia he worked on a cattle station, and also watched the 2003 Rugby World Cup being held in the country. In Africa, he visited Lesotho, where he worked in an orphanage.
As the second-born son of the Prince of Wales, it is unlikely that Prince Harry will succeed to the throne. However, both King George V and King George VI were second-born sons.
It seems likely that Prince Harry will enter the armed forces by attending an officer's training course at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
See also
- List of British princes
- British Royal Family
- Line of Succession to the British Throne
- Coat of Arms of Prince Henry of Wales
External link
- About the Prince - From Prince of Wales official Site
| Preceded by: HRH Prince William of Wales |
Line of Succession to the British throne | Followed by: HRH The Duke of York |