Prince Henry of Wales

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Prince Henry
Full name
Henry Charles Albert David [N 1]
Titles and styles
HRH Prince Henry of Wales
House House of Windsor
Father Charles, Prince of Wales
Mother Diana, Princess of Wales
Born 15 September 1984 (1984-09-15) (aged 24)
St Mary's Hospital, London
Baptised St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

Prince Henry of Wales (Henry Charles Albert David; born 15 September 1984), commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and grandson of Queen Elizabeth II. As such, he is third in the line of succession to the thrones of 16 independent states, though he is resident in and most directly involved with the United Kingdom, the oldest realm.

After an education at various schools around the United Kingdom and spending parts of his gap year in Australia and Lesotho, Henry, unlike his elder brother, Prince William, eschewed a university education in favour of following in the footsteps of various royal men by enrolling in the military. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry Regiment – serving temporarily with his brother – and completed his training as a tank commander. He served for 77 days on the front line in the Afghan War,[2] although he was pulled out after the American media revealed his presence.[3]

Contents

[edit] Early life

At St Mary's Hospital in London, England, on 15 September 1984, the second child of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, younger brother of Prince William, and fourth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was born. Baptised at St George's Chapel, in Windsor Castle, by then Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, Harry's godparents were his uncle, Prince Andrew, Duke of York; Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones; Lady Vestey; Mrs William Bartholomew; Bryan Organ; and Gerald Ward.

Along with his older brother, Henry's mother desired that he not just have "normal" experiences that other royal children had not had until later in life, if at all, but also more profound lessons, taking both boys to locales that ranged from Disneyland and McDonald's to AIDS clinics and shelters for the homeless.[4] Diana, Princess of Wales, who was by then divorced from the Prince of Wales, died in a car accident in 1997. Harry, along with his brother and father, was staying at Balmoral Castle at the time, and the Prince of Wales waited until early the following morning to tell his sons about their mother's death.[5] At his mother's funeral, Harry accompanied his father, brother, paternal grandfather, and maternal uncle in walking behind the funeral cortège from Kensington Palace to Westminster Abbey.[6]

British Royal Family

HM The Queen
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh


[edit] Education

Continuing on his father's precedent, Henry was educated at independent schools, starting at Jane Mynors' nursery school and the pre-preparatory Wetherby School, both in London. Following this, he attended Ludgrove School, and, after passing the entrance exams, was admitted to Eton College, where he studied geography, biology, mathematics, and art history at A-Level. The decision to place Henry in Eton went against the family tradition of sending royal children to Gordonstoun (Henry's grandfather, father, two uncles, and two cousins all attended); it did, however, make the Prince follow in the Spencer family footsteps, as both Diana's father and brother had attended Eton.[4] In June 2003, he completed his education at Eton with two A-Levels, obtaining a B in art, and a D in geography. He excelled in sports, however, developing his love for sports, particularly polo and rugby union.

After graduation, the Prince took a gap year, during which he spent time in Australia, working (as his father had done in his youth) on a cattle station and participating in the Young England vs Young Australia Polo Test Match.[7] He also travelled to Lesotho, where he worked with orphaned children and produced the documentary film The Forgotten Kingdom,[4] and holidayed in Argentina.

[edit] Royal duties and career

Prince Henry began to accompany his parents on official visits at an early age; his first overseas royal tour was with his parents to Italy in 1985.[8] The earlier decision made by the Princess of Wales to take an infant William to Australia set the precedent for young royal children going on official visits.[4] Henry then accompanied either both parents or his father on subsequent tours, though he did not begin solo official engagements until after his military training and active service; in 2008, he began to undertake royal visits to schools and organisations in Wales.[9]

[edit] Military career

Prince Henry entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 8 May 2005, where he was known as Officer Cadet Wales, and joined the Alamein Company.[10] Within a year, in April 2006, Henry completed his officer's training and was commissioned as a Cornet in the Blues and Royals, a regiment of the Household Cavalry in the British Army.[11] By April 2008, whereupon he reached two years' seniority, Henry was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Officer Cadet Wales (standing to attention next to the horse) on parade at Sandhurst, 21 June 2005.

The British Ministry of Defence and Clarence House made a joint announcement on 22 February 2007 that Prince Henry would be deployed with his regiment to the front line in Iraq, to serve as part of the 1st Mechanised Brigade of the 3rd Mechanised Division – a move supported by Henry, who had stated that he would leave the army if he was told to remain in safety while his regiment went to war;[12] he said: "There's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country."[13] Then head of the British army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, first said on 30 April 2007 that he had personally decided that the Prince would serve with his unit in Iraq[14], and Henry was scheduled for deployment in May or June 2007, to patrol the Maysan province.[15] By 16 May, however, Dannatt announced that Prince Henry would not serve in Iraq;[16] concerns included Henry being a high-value target (as several threats by various groups have already been made against him) and the dangers the soldiers around him would face should any attempt be made on the Prince's life or capture. Clarence House made public the Prince's disappointment with the decision, though he said he would abide by it.[17] In May 2007, British soldiers in Iraq were reported to be wearing t-shirts bearing the statement "I'm Harry!"; a reference to the scene in the movie Spartacus in which the survivors of Spartacus's army, defeated by Roman legions, are offered leniency by Crassus if they will identify their leader. Every survivor declares: "I'm Spartacus!"[18]

It was reported in early June 2007 that Prince Henry had arrived in Canada to train, alongside other soldiers of the Canadian Forces and British Army, at CFB Suffield near Medicine Hat, Alberta. It was said that this was in preparation for a tour of duty in Afghanistan, where Canadian and British forces were participating in the NATO led Afghan War;[19] rumours that were confirmed in February the following year, when the British Ministry of Defence revealed that Henry had secretly been deployed as a Forward Air Controller to Helmand Province in the Asian country.[20] The revelation came after the media – notably, the German newspaper Bild and Australian magazine New Idea[21][22] – breached the blackout placed over the information by the Canadian and British authorities.[23] It was later reported that, while in Afghanistan, Henry had called in United States Air Force air strikes,[24] helped Gurkha troops repel an attack from Taliban insurgents,[25] and performed patrol duty in hostile areas.[26] His tour came 735 years after his ancestor, Edward I of England (then Prince Edward), had also been on military duty in the Middle East during the Ninth crusade,[27] and also made Henry the first member of the Royal Family to have served in a war zone since his uncle, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, flew helicopters during the Falklands War; at the time, Andrew was second in line to the thrones of the Commonwealth realms. For his service, Prince Henry was decorated with the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan by his aunt, the Princess Royal, at the Combermere Barracks in May 2008.[28]

In October 2008, the news was revealed that Prince Henry was to follow his brother, father, and uncle with the wish to fly military helicopters. After passing the initial aptitude test, he will undertake a month-long course; depending on whether or not he passes this course he may proceed onto full flight training in early 2009.[29] Harry will need to pass his flying assessment at the Army Air Corps Base in Middle Wallop, the result of which will determine if he will pass on to train as a pilot of either the Apache, Lynx, or Gazelle helicopter, as his brother, father and uncle are capable of doing.[30]

[edit] Royal duties

At the age of 23, Prince Henry was appointed as a Counsellor of State, and began his royal duties by first serving in that capacity when the Queen was abroad to attend the 2005 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta. The following year, Henry was in Lesotho to again visit Mants'ase Children's Home near Mohale's Hoek (which he first toured in 2004), and along with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho launched Sentebale: The Princes' Fund for Lesotho, a charity to aid children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. He has also granted his patronage to a number of other organizations, including WellChild, Dolen Cymru, and MapAction.[31] To aid Sentebale, as well as the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and Centrepoint, Harry and his brother organised the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium, on 1 July 2007.

Sports have also been a way that the Prince has helped charities and other organizations, such as when he trained as a Rugby Development Officer for the Rugby Football Union in 2004 and then coached students in schools in order to encourage them to learn the sport. He has also participated in polo matches, like his brother and father, in order to raise money for charitable causes.[7]

On 6 January 2009 Henry and his brother Prince William were granted their own royal household from their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. The household the two princes will share will have three main staff members, supported by a "small" team. Sir David Manning, the former British ambassador to Washington, will work as a part-time adviser to the princes. Previously, William and Henry's affairs had been handled by the office of their father at Clarence House in central London. The brothers' new household released a statement – complete with their own cyphers at the top – announcing that they have established their own office at nearby St. James's Palace to look after their public, military, and charitable activities. Henry's cypher is similar to his brother's, but displays an H in a shade of blue similar to that used by his mother.

[edit] Personal life and relationships

Prince Henry has spent much of his free time in sporting activities, playing competitive polo, as well as skiing (at Klosters, Switzerland, and Whistler, British Columbia), and motocross.[7] Harry also earned a reputation in his youth for being rebellious, leading the tabloid press to label him as a "wild child".[32] He was found at age 17 smoking cannabis and partaking in under age drinking with his friends, would clash physically with paparazzi outside of nightclubs,[32] and was photographed at a "Colonial and Native" themed costume party wearing a Nazi Afrika Korps uniform.[33] He later issued a public statement apologising for his actions.[34]

In January 2009, the British tabloid News of the World revealed a video made by Henry three years previously, in which he referred to a Pakistani fellow officer cadet as "our little Paki friend," and later called a soldier wearing a cloth on his head a "raghead". These terms, were described by David Cameron as "unacceptable",[35] and by The Daily Telegraph as "racist",[35] and a British Muslim youth organization called the Prince a "thug",[36] a statement that was later retracted.[37] Clarence House immediately issued an apology from Henry, who stated that no malice was intended in his remarks.[38] While the cadet's father refused to accept Harry's apology,[39] a former British MP and Royal Marine, Rod Richards, said that such nicknames were common amongst military comrades, stating "in the Armed Forces people often used to call me Taffy. Others were called Yankie, Oz or Kiwi or whatever. I consider Paki as an abbreviation for Pakistani. I don't think on this occasion it was intended to be offensive."[40] It later emerged that Prince Harry had personally apologized to the soldier.[2] [41]

Henry's personal relationships have not been followed as much as those of his brother; the most media attention has been focused on his relationship with Chelsy Davy. In an interview conducted for his 21st birthday, Henry referred to Davy as his girlfriend, and the press reported at that time that the couple had been together for 18 months, contradicting earlier reports that they were no longer together.[42] Henry and Davy were also seen together publicly at the Concert for Diana, though in 2009 it was again reported in the media that the pair had parted ways.[43]

[edit] Titles, styles, honours, and arms

[edit] Titles and styles

Royal styles of
HRH Prince Henry of Wales

Reference style His Royal Highness
Spoken style Your Royal Highness
Alternative style Sir
  • 15 September 1984 – : His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales

The Prince's style and title in full: His Royal Highness Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales. As a British prince, Henry holds no surname; however, as with the other male-line grandchildren of Elizabeth II, he uses the name of the area over which his father holds title, i.e. Wales (as Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie use York, per their father, Prince Andrew, Duke of York). Past precedent is that such surnames are dropped from usage in adulthood, after which either title alone, or Mountbatten-Windsor is used when necessary.[44][1] Should his father succeed to the throne he will be known as His Royal Highness The Prince Henry.

[edit] Military ranks

[edit] Honours

Medals

[edit] Honorary military appointments

Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom

[edit] Arms

[edit] Ancestry

Via his maternal grandfather, John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, Prince Henry is descended from English Kings Charles II and James II. Through his mother, Harry is of English descent and remote Irish, Scottish, American, and Armenian descent.

There are persistent rumours that Harry's biological father is Major James Hewitt, with whom his mother publicly admitted conducting an extramarital affair in her 1995 Panorama interview. Diana and Hewitt have both stated they had not met until after Harry's birth.[48]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ As a titled royal, Harry holds no surname, but, when one is used, it is Mountbatten-Windsor (or, more colloquially, his father's territorial designation, Wales); according to letters patent dated February 1960, his official surname is Windsor.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Frequently Asked Questions for alt.talk.royalty > British royalty and nobility". heraldica.org. http://www.heraldica.org/faqs/britfaq.html#p2-1. Retrieved on 2008-10-12. 
  2. ^ Associated Press (28 February 2008). "Prince Harry on front line in Afghanistan". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23391374. Retrieved on 2008-02-28. 
  3. ^ Audrey, Gillian; Tran, Mark; Walker Peter (28 February 2008), "Harry secretly serving in Afghanistan", Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/28/military.afghanistan 
  4. ^ a b c d "Celebrity Central > Prince Harry > Biography". People (Time Inc.). http://www.people.com/people/prince_harry/biography. Retrieved on 2008-10-15. 
  5. ^ "Timeline: How Diana Died". BBC. 30 August 1997. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/conspiracy_files/6217366.stm. Retrieved on 2008-04-11. 
  6. ^ "BBC ON THIS DAY - 6 - 1997: Diana's funeral watched by millions". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/6/newsid_2502000/2502307.stm. Retrieved on 2009-03-26. 
  7. ^ a b c "The Prince of Wales > Prince Harry > Interests". Clarence House. http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/personalprofiles/princeharry/interests/. Retrieved on 2008-10-15. 
  8. ^ "The Prince of Wales > At Work > Countries Visited". Clarence House. http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/personalprofiles/theprinceofwales/atwork/supportingthequeen/countriesvisited/index.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-15. 
  9. ^ "The Prince of Wales > News > Prince Harry carries out engagements in Cardiff". Clarence House. 5 June 2008. http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/newsandgallery/news/prince_harry_carries_out_engagements_in_cardiff_1606809177.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-15. 
  10. ^ "Harry begins Sandhurst training". BBC. 8 May 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4526077.stm. Retrieved on 2008-10-16. 
  11. ^ a b "Army". London Gazette (Her Majesty's Stationary Office) Supplement No. 1 (57994). 26 May 2006. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=57994&geotype=London&gpn=7375&type=Supplement. Retrieved on 2008-10-12. 
  12. ^ Witchell, Nicholas (22 February 2007). "Harry Iraq deployment no surprise". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6385169.stm. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  13. ^ "MoD to review Harry's Iraq role". BBC. 26 April 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6594223.stm. Retrieved on 2008-10-12. 
  14. ^ "British Army Chief to Order Prince Harry to Iraq". VOA News (Voice of America). 1 May 2007. http://voanews.com/english/archive/2007-05/2007-05-01-voa1.cfm. Retrieved on 25 December 2008. 
  15. ^ Hilder, James (27 April 2007). "A 'Wild West' in the east where militias learn their deadly trade". The Times (News International Group). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1712044.ece. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  16. ^ "Prince Harry will not go to Iraq". CNN. 17 May 2007. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/05/16/iraq.harry/index.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  17. ^ "The Prince of Wales > News > Prince Harry deployment update". Clarence House. 16 May 2007. http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/newsandgallery/news/prince_harry_deployment_update_1590048916.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  18. ^ "Harry's troops do a Spartacus". Ananova. 2 May 2007. http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2314885.html. Retrieved on 2007-05-04. 
  19. ^ "Prince Harry may be training in Alberta: reports". CTV. 2 June 2007. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070602/harry_canada_070602/20070602?hub=TopStories. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  20. ^ "Prince Harry on Afghan front line". BBC. 28 February 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7269743.stm. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  21. ^ Gammell, Caroline (1 Mar 2008). "How the Prince Harry blackout was broken". Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/28/nharry2128.xml. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  22. ^ "Prince Harry Biography > New Idea". Yahoo. http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/new-idea/8771/prince-harry-goes-to-war-in-afghanistan/. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  23. ^ Dunn, Tom Newton (29 February 2008). "Harry to come home". The Sun (News Group Newspapers Ltd.). http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/royals/article865446.ece. Retrieved on 2008-10-16. 
  24. ^ "Hero Harry's home". The Sun (News Group Newspapers Ltd.). 29 February 2008. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article858482.ece. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  25. ^ "Prince Harry in Taliban gun battle". Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). 29 February 2008. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/28/nharry228.xml. Retrieved on 2008-10-16. 
  26. ^ "On patrol with Prince Harry". Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). 29 February 2008. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/28/nharry728.xml. Retrieved on 2008-10-16. 
  27. ^ Tyerman, Christopher (25 September 2006). God's War: A New History Of The Crusades. Belknap Press. ISBN 0674023870. 
  28. ^ a b Perry, Simon; Tumposky, Ellen (16 October 2008). "Prince Harry Gets Medal as Chelsy Cheers Him On". People (Time Inc.). http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20197820,00.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-16. 
  29. ^ "Prince Harry aims to become pilot". BBC. 27 October 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7692010.stm. Retrieved on 2008-10-27. 
  30. ^ "Prince Harry volunteers for Army helicopter pilot selection". Ministry of Defence (MoD). 27 October 2008. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/PeopleInDefence/PrinceHarryVolunteersForArmyHelicopterPilotSelection.htm. Retrieved on 2008-10-27. 
  31. ^ "The Prince of Wales > Media Centre > Press Releases > Prince Harry to become Patron of three charities". Princeofwales.gov.uk. 28 March 2007. http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/prince_harry_to_become_patron_of_three_charities_890227076.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  32. ^ a b Majendie, Paul (1 March 2008). "Prince Harry: Wild child turned war hero" (in English). Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL2968319120080301. Retrieved on 2008-10-16. 
  33. ^ "Harry says sorry for Nazi costume" (in English). BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4170083.stm. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  34. ^ "Harry public apology 'not needed'" (in English). BBC. 14 January 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4170623.stm. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  35. ^ a b Prince Harry's 'Paki' comments 'completely unacceptable', says David Cameron The Daily Telegraph, 11 January 2009
  36. ^ Prince's racist term sparks anger BBC News, 11 January 2009
  37. ^ Lyons, James (13 January 2009). "PM: Forgive Harry for his' mistake'". Mirror.co.uk. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/01/13/pm-forgive-harry-for-his-mistake-115875-21037313/. 
  38. ^ Byron, Katy (11 January 2009). "Britain's Prince Harry apologizes for offensive language". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/01/10/prince.harry.videos/index.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-11. 
  39. ^ Soldier's father hits out at prince Press Association, 12 January 2009
  40. ^ Dagnell, Andrew (13 July), "Former Tory leader Rod Richards defends Prince Harry's use of 'Paki'", WalesOnline, http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/01/13/former-tory-leader-rod-richards-defends-prince-harry-s-use-of-paki-91466-22677592/, retrieved on 1 February 2009 
  41. ^ http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/royals/article2142628.ece
  42. ^ Bates, Stephen (15 September 2005). "Harry at 21 on Camilla, the media and Aids children in Africa". Guardian (Guardian News and Media Ltd.). http://www.guardian.co.uk/monarchy/story/0,,1570161,00.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  43. ^ [1]
  44. ^ "The Royal Family > Titles and Succession > Royal Family Name". Buckingham Palace. http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page5657.asp. Retrieved on 2008-10-15. 
  45. ^ London Gazette (Her Majesty's Stationary Office) (58667): 5736. 15 April 2008. 
  46. ^ a b "The Prince of Wales > Prince Harry > At Work > Regiments". http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/personalprofiles/princeharry/atwork/regiments/index.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-16. 
  47. ^ "RAF Regiment Association Official Site". Rafregt.org.uk. http://www.rafregt.org.uk/RAFRegtAssociation/tabid/53/language/en-GB/Default.aspx. Retrieved on 2008-10-12. 
  48. ^ "Hewitt denies Prince Harry link". BBC News. 2002-09-21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2273498.stm. Retrieved on 2008-03-08. 

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Wales, Harry
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mountbatten-Windsor, Henry Charles Albert David
SHORT DESCRIPTION Second son of Charles, Prince of Wales
DATE OF BIRTH 15 September 1984 (1984-09-15) (age 24)
PLACE OF BIRTH London, United Kingdom
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
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