Happy 36th Birthday, Prince Harry: See Then & Now Pics Of The Young Royal Through The Years

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Happy Birthday, Prince Harry! Today, September 15, the young royal turns 36 years old and we cannot believe how much time has passed since Harry made his debut on the steps of St. Mary’s Hospital, cradled so tenderly by his loving mom, Princess Diana. Over the years, Harry has completely matured, becoming such an inspiration to many young people, and an incredible influence in the world of philanthropy and on the royal family.

To mark this special occasion, we’re taking a look back at Prince Harry through the years. The world came to know Harry first as the second son of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Harry was so incredibly close to Diana, which made her loss on August 31, 1997 absolutely earth-shattering for the then-12-year-old prince. Diana’s many admirers remembered her fondly for how she tried to give her sons as normal a life as possible — going to theme parks, and regularly showing her boys affection in front of the cameras.

As Harry got older, his teens early 20s were a tough time. But Harry found purpose in service of a different kind. Harry joined the Royal Military Academy and was deployed to Afghanistan, where he served with a number of soldiers and was treated just as they were. Through his time in the military, Harry grew so much and completely reprioritized his life after service.

The young royal went on to found the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style sporting event for injured servicemen and women. Harry’s love of philanthropy extended to Africa and even at home in the United Kingdom, where he used his platform to discuss mental health struggles — especially those he suppressed following the death of his mother. As a full-grown young man, Harry took a huge step by introducing the love of his life to the world.

Harry and Meghan Markle became a media fixture as soon as they went public with their relationship. The couple became engaged in September 2017, making their official announcement in November of that year. They later married in a fairytale wedding ceremony held at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018. One year later, Harry and Meghan became parents to baby Archie, who is truly the apple of their eyes!

Although their life seemed idyllic, the strain and cruelty of gossip media forced Harry to make a brave decision for himself and his family. In January 2020, he and Meghan chose to step down as senior members of the royal family. But over the course of the last few months, the couple’s devoted admirers have seen for themselves how happy the two are in Los Angeles. This is such an exciting new chapter for Harry as a father, husband, and royal who has redefined the monarchy. We cannot wait to see what this year brings for him!