53 Photos of Prince Harry’s Royal Transformation
The evolution from royal prince to Netflix king is real.
Prince Harry has done a lot of growing up in the public eye since his birth on September 15, 1984. From the royal palace to his extravagant engagements around the globe, Harry has had quite the transformation, and the world has watched as he made the step from child to adult to husband to father. But the Duke of Sussex shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, and even though Harry and Meghan have left their royal status behind hardly means they'll be strapped for cash. The new Los Angelenos just made a deal with Netflix that's worth a reported $100 million. So, yeah. It looks like the jump from actual royalty to Netflix royalty isn't so bad after all. And in all honesty, Harry may have dropped his royal surname, but he'll always be Prince Harry to us.
December 1984
Three months after his birth, Prince Henry of Wales is christened at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. Here he is with his mother, Princess Diana, in an official portrait. St George’s is also where Harry married Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018.
October 1985
Harry, 11 months, plays with the piano with his brother William, 3, at their home in Kensington Palace.
December 1986
A cheeky Harry, 2, poses for a family photo with Prince William, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and Tigga the dog at their home in Kensington Palace. In the HBO documentary, Diana, Our Mother, released ahead of the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2017, Harry said of his mother’s wardrobe choices for the brothers, “I genuinely think she got satisfaction out of dressing myself and William up in the most bizarre outfits—normally matching.”
September 1987
Harry, 3, waves to photographers as he arrives in a matching blue sweater and shorts outfit for his first day of nursery school at Mrs. Mynor’s in Notting Hill, London. Big brother William also attended Mrs. Mynors, which was based on the Montessori teaching principles.
June 1989
A 4-year-old Harry and brother William—not Prince George, despite what your eyes may lead you to believe— attend their first official royal engagement at the Beating the Retreat Parade not far from home at Kensington Palace.
October 1991
Harry and William, in their Canadian tuxedo best, visit Queen Elizabeth II’s ship, “Ottawa,” during a trip to Toronto. Note the adorable Velcro shoes they’re both sporting.
October 1991
Harry, William, and Princess Diana wear waterproof capes as they take a trip on the Maid of the Mist boat while viewing Niagara Falls.
April 1993
Harry, Diana, and William are the faces of pure joy after finishing a log ride at the Thorpe Park amusement park. The trio visited the park three years in a row during the Easter holidays, and during every visit, Diana reportedly insisted that they line up just like everyone else. A film crew joined the royals on the third visit in 1993, producing one of the most famous clips of Diana and her kids.
July 1993
Harry, 8, rides in a light tank during a visit to the Barracks of Light Dragoons in Hanover, Germany. The prince would later enroll at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and serve in Afghanistan with the Army Air Corps.
January 1995
Harry, 10, strikes a pose with his skis during a family trip to Klosters, Switzerland, an annual vacation destination for the British royal family. Ski fashion of the ’90s was truly something special.
January 1996
Harry is photographed after a day of skiing in Klosters. Fun fact about the ski village often frequented by the royals: There are two chair lifts named after Harry’s father, Charles.
September 1997
Harry and William attend Princess Diana’s funeral. “My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television,” Harry told Newsweek in 2017. “I don’t think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don’t think it would happen.” Harry would quietly turn 13 nine days later.
September 1998
Ahead of his 14th birthday, Harry reports for his first day of school at Eton College, following in the footsteps of brother Prince William, Diana’s father, and Diana’s brother. (The Windsor family traditionally sent their kids to Gordonstoun in Scotland.)
July 1999
A casual-looking Harry smiles for cameras as the royal family celebrates brother William’s successful driving test at Highgrove, their father’s home in Gloucestershire. Harry would pass his own driving test three years later.
December 1999
Harry sports braces while meeting the public after attending Christmas Day church at Sandringham. He would do the same thing with Meghan Markle 18 years later as an engaged prince.
April 2000
Harry gives his ski attire an update, swapping out the bandanna from the ’90s for this cozy knit hat, during the royal family’s annual trek to Klosters.
March 2002
A braces-free Harry, 17, smiles for photographers with Charles and William during the family’s annual ski trip in Klosters.
May 2003
Harry hangs out in his dorm room, which includes a photo of Princess Diana, at Eton College during a portrait series that was taken ahead of his graduation. In 2015, Harry revealed that he “didn’t enjoy school at all” and simply “wanted to be the bad boy.”
November 2003
Harry, 19, tries his hand at being a horse whisperer during an official visit to Australia.
July 2004
Harry brings a pop of color to Cirencester Park Polo Club for the annual Queen Mother’s Cup. Note the extremely subtle peach fuzz on the 19-year-old’s face.
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