In the early 2000s, Prince Harry was rarely out of the spotlight. Whether stepping onto the polo field at the 2012 Royal Salute Polo Cup, or championing a whole host of charitable causes, the young royal was often captured in moments that revealed both his playful spirit and sense of duty. Even his brief foray into football added to the mythology of the prince-next-door.
In those years, Harry was frequently cast as the monarchy’s wild child, his name linked to a number of British socialites, most notably his long-term, on-again, off-again partner Chelsy Davy. Yet his path shifted decisively in 2016, when he met the actress Meghan Markle at a charity event for wounded veterans. The couple’s shared commitment to philanthropy laid the foundations for their relationship, which quickly captured international attention. Meanwhile, “Harry [continued] to bask in the public’s love for the People’s Princess,” as Vanity Fair’s Sam Kashner wrote in a 2017 profile.
The second son of King Charles III and Princess Diana, Harry has long been compared to his mother, whose warmth and candour resonated deeply with the public. Now a husband and father of two, settled in Southern California, he has embraced a quieter, more private life. To mark his 41st birthday, we look back at some of the most memorable images from his earlier years.
Photo: Getty Images1/20Prince Harry takes a penalty at West Ham United’s Upton Park, 2002.
Photo: Getty Images2/20Prince Harry watching the West Ham United youth squad in 2002.
Photo: Getty Images3/20Prince Harry playing with Andrew Gailey’s dogs, Rosie and Jenny. Gailey was the housemaster of Eton College’s Manor House. The Prince completed his studies at Eton a few months later, in June 2003.
Photo: Getty Images4/20Pictured assisting an RFU Rugby Development coach with children at Greenfield Primary School in Sheffield, 2004.
Photo: Getty Images5/20Prince Harry and Prince William attending the Cavalry Old Comrades Association Annual Parade in Hyde Park, London, 2007.
Photo: Getty Images6/20On stage at Wembley Stadium rehearsing for the Concert for Diana in memory of his mother, 2007
Photo: Getty Images7/20At the after-party following the Concert for Diana, photographed with Natasha Kaplinsky, 2007.
Photo: Getty Images8/20Princes Harry and William pose for a photograph while overseeing preparations for the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium, 2007.
Photo: Getty Images9/20At the 10th anniversary memorial for Princess Diana at Wellington Barracks, 2007.
Photo: Getty Images10/20Practicing his rugby skills in the desert, 2008.
Photo: Getty Images11/20Attending a garden party for orphaned children at the Garrison Museum, Barbados, 2010.
Photo: Getty Images12/20Prince Harry meets Trudy, a Golden Retriever puppy in training, during his visit to the Canine Partners Training Centre, 2010.
Photo: Getty Images13/20Prince Harry throws out the opening pitch before the game between the Minnesota Twins and the New York Mets, 2010.
Photo: Getty Images14/20The Prince photographed holding Veyron, a puppy, during a visit to the Canine Partners Training Centre, 2010.
Photo: Getty Images15/20Prince Harry arriving at a welcome reception for Walking with the Wounded at BAFTA, 2011.
Photo: Getty Images16/20At the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Photo: Getty Images17/20Playing polo for the Sentebale team at the Royal Salute Polo Cup in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, 2012.
Photo: Getty Images18/20Prince Harry during his visit to St Bernadette’s Centre for the Blind in Maseru, Lesotho, 2013.
Photo: Getty Images19/20On an expedition to Antarctica with the charity Walking with the Wounded, 2013.
Photo: Getty Images20/20In Abu Dhabi, attending the Royal Salute World Polo at Ghantoot Polo Club, 2014.
