Prince Harry's most memorable moments as he turns 40
While he may now be 40 years old with children of his own, many will forever remember Prince Harry as the fun-loving, cheeky chappy who grew up as 'spare' alongside his older brother and air to the throne, Prince William. Being a member of the Royal Family means much of his life was documented by photographers, who captured sweet moments alongside his mother, the late Princess Diana, father, The King, and late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
As a young man, Prince Harry began to forge a life of his own, serving in the Armed Forces in Afghanistan and going onto establish the Invictus Games for injured service people. In 2018, he married Megan Markle in Windsor before welcoming his son Archie in 2019, and daughter Lilibet, named after his grandmother, in 2021.
To mark Prince Harry's 40th birthday, we take a look back over his life in pictures. From emerging as a newborn in the arms of his mother, Princess Diana, to announcing the birth of his own son, here are 40 of the most memorable moments from across the years of Prince Harry's life.
St Mary's Hospital, 1984
Proud parents Prince Charles and Princess Diana are photographed with newborn Prince Harry outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London.
Rainy days, 1985
Diana, Princess of Wales, shelters her son, Prince Harry, from the rain whilst boarding an aircraft at Aberdeen Airport in Scotland.
Playing the piano, 1985
Prince Harry is all smiles as he plays the piano at home in Kensington Palace alongside his older brother, Prince William.
Father and sons, 1985
Prince Charles laughs with his sons as he lifts Prince Harry onto Prince William's shoulder in Kensington Palace for this sweet family photo.
Learning to crawl, 1985
Prince Harry looks into the camera while learning to crawl at home in Kensington Palace.
A future solider, 1986
A young Prince Harry photographed in a Parachute Uniform in the ground of his home at Highgrove House, sporting a cut on his nose after a fall.
Garden walks, 1986
The King, follows a young Prince Harry alongside the swimming pool in the garden of their home at Highgrove House.
Polo, 1987
The late Queen Elizabeth II looks out on a polo field from the Royal Box at Guards Polo Club with her grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
First day of nursery, 1987
Prince Harry looks on at photographers through his handmade binoculars as he leaves Mrs Mynor's nursery school in Notting Hill, London, on his first day.
Mother and son, 1987
Prince Harry pulls tongues in the arms of Princess Diana while on holiday in Majorca, Spain.
Fire engine fun, 1988
King Charles helps his youngest son climb onto an old fire engine at Sandringham, Norfolk.
Matching outfits, 1989
Prince William and Prince Harry wear matching outfits as they arrive at Aberdeen Airport for the start of their holidays in Scotland.
Trooping the Colour, 1990
Prince Harry cheekily looks down from a Buckingham Palace window at proceedings during the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
Hitting the slopes, 1991
Prince Harry has a go at skiing and is pictured mid-jump during a skiing holiday in Austria.
Thorpe Park, 1992
Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prince Harry take a fun ride together on the Depth Charge waterslide at Thorpe Park Theme Park.
Alton Towers, 1994
Never one to shy away from having fun with her children, Princess Diana takes her sons and a friend to Alton Towers, and the four mess around as they take a ride on the log flume.
V-J Day Celebrations, 1995
Prince Harry shares a cuddle with his mum during the V-J Day Celebrations, which marks the end of World War II.
Sledging together, 1997
The King takes his son sledging during a skiing holiday in Switzerland.
Balmoral, 1997
Prince Harry joins his dad, The King, and teenage Prince William by River Dee at Balmoral Castle Estate.
In Loving Memory, 1997
Following the death of Prince Diana, Prince Harry looks at the bouquets of flowers left in his mother's memory at Balmoral, as The King holds his hand.
Cousins, 1998
Prince Harry and Zara Phillips hit the slopes together in Switzerland.
Eton College, 1998
Prince Harry, dressed smartly in a suit jacket and tie, signs in for his first day at Eton College in Windsor.
Penalty kick, 2002
During a visit to West Ham United's Upton Park football ground, Prince Harry takes a penalty kick.
Eton College bedroom, 2003
Prince Harry is photographed smiling while sitting in his bedroom at Eton College which has been decorated, including with a photograph of his mother, Princess Diana, on his desk.
Much Ado about Nothing, 2003
In his final year at Eton, Prince Harry plays the character Conrade in Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing.
Cowboy, 2003
Prince Harry stands next to a horse named Guardsman, while wearing the traditional Akubra Leather hat. He spent time working on a cattle ranch in the Outback in Australia, owned by friends of Princess Diana.
Sentebale, 2006
Prince Harry jokes around with children at Mutsu Potsane, in the grounds of the Mants'ase childrens home, on a return visit to Lesotho in southern Africa. He was visiting to launch the charity Sentebale, which means 'Forget me not' in memory of his mother.
Afghanistan, 2008
Prince Harry in his Spartan armoured vehicle in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Invictus Games launch, 2014
Prince Harry speaks with wheelchair basketball players during the launch of the Invictus Games for wounded service people at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Chelsea Flower Show, 2015
The late Queen Elizabeth II and her grandson, Prince Harry share a sweet moment at the annual Chelsea Flower Show.
Engagement announcement, 2016
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace.
Popcorn fun, 2017
Prince Harry shares a playful moment with two-year-old Emily, during the Seated Volleyball game at the Invictus Games Toronto. The little girl, who was sat on her mother's lap, took a pinch at Harry's popcorn, thinking he wasn't looking.
Court-side banter, 2017
Prince Harry shares a joke with then President Barack Obama during the Invictus Games Toronto, as they sit court-side for the wheelchair basketball.
Wedding bells, 2018
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marry at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Meghan's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy.
It's a boy, 2019
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, introduce their newborn son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Meghan gave birth on Monday, 6 May, 2019.
Prince Philip's funeral, 2021
Prince Harry and other members of the Royal Family walk side by side for the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Pictured (L-R) are Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; Peter Phillips, Earl of Snowdon; David Armstrong-Jones; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex; Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
The big reveal, 2021
Prince William and Prince Harry unveil a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. It would have been her 60th birthday.
Remembering Diana, 2021
Prince Harry smiles as he walks in front of a statue of his mother, depicted by the sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley.
State funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, 2022
Prince Harry walks solemnly behind his aunt, Princess Anne during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey. The late Queen died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on 8 September, 2022.
Happiness, 2024
Prince Harry and his wife Megan look happy as they dance together at the Unidad Recreativa El Vallado in Cali, Colombia.
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