Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, born Prince Henry of Wales on September 15, 1984, at St Mary's Hospital in London, England, is a member of the British royal family and one of the most recognized public figures in the world. As the younger son of King Charles III and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, he is fifth in the line of succession to the British throne. Known for his military service, humanitarian work, and his highly publicized departure from royal duties alongside his wife, American actress Meghan Markle, Harry has carved out a distinct identity that blends royal tradition with modern celebrity and advocacy.
Born during the reign of his paternal grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, Harry was educated at Wetherby School, Ludgrove School, and Eton College before completing officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He was commissioned as a cornet in the Blues and Royals, serving briefly alongside his elder brother, Prince William. Harry was deployed twice on active service in Afghanistan: for ten weeks in Helmand Province during 2007–2008, and for twenty weeks with the Army Air Corps in 2012–2013. His military experience profoundly shaped his public profile and later inspired his philanthropic efforts.
In 2014, moved by the Warrior Games in the United States, Harry founded the Invictus Games, an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick armed services personnel and veterans. He remains actively involved as its patron. In 2016, together with William and his sister-in-law Catherine, he co-founded Heads Together, a mental health awareness initiative that became a landmark campaign in the United Kingdom.
Harry's personal life drew global attention when he began a relationship with Meghan Markle, an American actress best known for her role in the legal drama Suits. The couple married in 2018, and Harry was created Duke of Sussex ahead of the wedding. They have two children, Archie and Lilibet. In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced they would step back from their roles as working members of the royal family, subsequently relocating to Southern California and establishing Archewell Inc., a Beverly Hills–based organization encompassing both commercial and charitable ventures.
Their departure from royal life was followed by a series of high-profile media projects. In March 2021, the couple gave a widely publicized interview to Oprah Winfrey on Oprah with Meghan and Harry. In December 2022, they appeared in the Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan. In 2023, Harry published his memoir, Spare, which became an international bestseller and offered an unprecedented personal account of his life within the monarchy. In August 2026, he and Meghan relocated to the United Kingdom with their children, though without plans to resume public duties as working members of the royal family. Through his military background, charitable initiatives, and media ventures, Harry continues to shape a public role defined by service, advocacy, and independence from traditional royal expectations.