Happy 31st Birthday to Prince Harry!

September 15, 2015

Everyone’s favorite solider will be spending the day flying in a Spitfire to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Prince Henry of Wales, (Henry Charles Albert David) born 15 September 1984, known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales. His paternal grandparents are Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. At the time of his birth, he was third in the line of succession to succeed his grandmother. He is currently fifth in line after his nephew George and niece Charlotte.

Harry was born at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, on 15 September 1984 at 4.20 pm. He weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces (3.12 kg) . He was baptised on 21 December 1984 at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie.

His godparents were the Duke of York (his paternal uncle), Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones (his paternal cousin once removed), Lady Celia Vestey (née Knight), Carolyn Bartholomew (née Pride), Bryan Organand Gerald Ward (former officer in the Household Cavalry).

Diana wanted Harry and his older brother William to have a broader range of experiences than previous royal children and took them to venues that ranged fromDisney World and McDonald’s to AIDS clinics and shelters for the homeless.

Harry 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.

Like his father and brother, Harry was educated at independent schools. He started 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, art history and art at A-Level.

The decision to place Harry at Eton went against the Windsor family tradition of sending children to Gordonstoun (Harry’s grandfather, father, two uncles, and two cousins all attended); it did make Harry follow in the Spencer family footsteps, as both Diana’s father and brother had attended Eton.

In June 2003, Harry completed his education at Eton with two A-Levels (achieving a grade B in art and D in geography) having decided to drop history of art after AS level. He excelled in sports, particularly polo and rugby union. Passing two A-levels, Harry was eligible to apply for an officer commission in the British Army.

After school, Harry 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. He also travelled to Lesotho, where he worked with orphaned children and produced the documentary film The Forgotten Kingdom.

After an education at schools in the United Kingdom and spending parts of his gap year in Australia and Lesotho, Harry chose a military career, undergoing officer training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

He was commissioned as a Cornet into the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry Regiment, serving temporarily with his brother, and completed his training as a troop leader. He left the army in June 2015.

Harry enjoys playing many sporting activities, playing competitive polo, skiing, and motocross. Prince Harry is a supporter of Arsenal Football Club. Harry is also a keen Rugby Union fan, and supported England’s bid to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup.