Prince Harry of Wales Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
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. Harry is third in the line of succession to the British throne, and is famous for being the carefree, fun-loving, and rebellious member of the Royal Family.
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2 Education 3 Death of Diana, Princess of Wales 4 Controversy 5 Future 6 See also 7 External link |
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. He is styled His Royal Highness, Prince Henry of Wales and called Harry by his family.
Charles wanted a girl, and was deeply disappointed when the baby was a boy; worse, according to Diana's version of events, Harry, Charles ruefully noted, had "ruddy hair," a Spencer family trait. Biographers agree that the already-troubled marriage became irrevocably broken as a result.
Despite the fact that Diana met her future lover, Maj. James Hewitt, in 1986, the urban legend persists that he, not Charles, is Harry's father.
Harry attended the Mrs. Jane Mynors's nursery school in West London, the same as William. 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, he finished Eton with two A-levels in Geography and Art.
At school, he developed his love of sport, particularly polo and rugby. He has also participated in the Eton Wall Game.
The princes not only had to endure the pain of their parents' breakup, but the humiliation of having the most intimate details of the marriage splashed in the headlines; Charles's and Diana's public admissions of adultery didn't help. They were divorced in 1996.
On August 31, 1997, Diana was killed in a car accident in Paris, France, with her boyfriend and their driver. Her death came days after she spent a holiday in Southern France with William and Harry. The princes were staying at Balmoral Castle; it was Charles who awoke them and broke the tragic news.
At Diana's celebrity-studded funeral - which was broadcast live throughout the world - the princes, their father, grandfather (Prince Philip), and uncle (the Earl Spencer) walked behind Diana's funeral cortege from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. On Diana's coffin was a card from Harry, made out to Mummy. Cameras were barred from showing the princes during the service itself; Harry reportedly broke down and sobbed several times. Both princes were praised for their strength shown on that day.
Contrary to his eulogy, in which he promised that Diana's "blood family" would take over her less-traditional upbringing of them, the boys have seen little of the Earl Spencer and the other members of Diana's family.
Unlike his shy brother, Harry has made constant 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 the possibility of criminal charges being filed against him. Ultimately, a police investigation cleared Harry of wrongdoing. Charles was praised for his handling of the situation, which included taking Harry to visit a drug rehabilitation facility in London.
The basement of Charles's Highgrove home is rumoured to be nicknamed Club H, an intimate and private nightclub for Harry and his friends.
On the morning of 21 October 2004, Harry got into a fracas with a paparazzo as he exited a Piccadilly Circus nightclub. After the story hit the tabloids, he issued a statement in which he stated that his behavior had been "disappointing" and in which he publicly apologized to Charles.
After finishing Eton, Harry undertook a gap year, visiting Australia and Africa. In Australia he worked on a cattle station, and watched the 2003 Rugby World Cup being held in the country. In Africa, he worked in an orphanage in Lesotho.
As the second-born son of the Prince of Wales, it is unlikely that Harry will succeed to the throne. However, it's worth noting that King George V and King George VI were second-born. Charles has stressed upon Harry that, because of his position, he must be of use in his life, and has rejected the boy's "ambition" of becoming a professional polo player.
Harry is due to enter Sandhurst in 2005. (BBC)
Birth
Education
Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
Controversy
Future
See also
External link
| Preceded by: HRH Prince William of Wales | Line of Succession to the British throne | Followed by: HRH The Duke of York |
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