Prince Harry Through the Years: Photos as Young Royal to Today

By:

September 15, 2023 10:55AM EDT

CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

In honor of Prince Harry’s 39th birthday, look back at the royal’s transformation in the public eye from a youngster to today!

1 of 33

Prince Harry Then And Now

Prince Harry Then And Now — Prince Harry, born September 15, 1984, is the second son of Princess Charles and Princess Diana. Prince Harry’s entire life has been in the spotlight. Ever since he was an infant, Harry made an impression on many royal devotees. He was the apple of his mother’s eye, but his life was shattered when she died in a car accident in 1997 when Harry was just 12 years old.

Over the years, Harry has completely matured into a grown man. He’s an inspiration to many young people who have struggled with their mental health, and he’s become a devoted father and husband, alongside his stunning wife Meghan Markle. The two have two children together, and shocked people around the world in 2020 when they decided to step away from their royal duties to live a more private life in America. Now, the family resides in California.

Since his exit from royal life, Prince Harry has only returned home for familial obligations, like the funeral of his grandfather, Prince Philip, in 2021, as well as his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in Sept. 2022.

Keep scrolling through the gallery to see more photos of Harry over the years.

2 of 33

Prince Harry & Meghan Markle at Invictus Games

Prince Harry & Meghan Markle at Invictus Games — Prince Harry spent his 39th birthday with wife, Meghan Markle, at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany on September 15, 2023.

3 of 33

Prince Harry and Nacho Figueras in Tokyo

Prince Harry and Nacho Figueras in Tokyo — Prince Harry and his friend Nacho Figueras at the Tokyo airport on August 10. The pair left for Singapore to play in a polo match for charity.

4 of 33

Prince Harry Arriving In High Court

Prince Harry Arriving In High Court — Prince Harry arrives in court on June 6, 2023 to testify against the Mirror Group Newspapers. He became the first senior royal to take the stand in court in more than 130 years. In his testimony, Harry accused MGN of obtaining information about him for articles via unlawful methods, like phone hacking.

5 of 33

Prince Harry Prepares To Testify In The UK

Prince Harry Prepares To Testify In The UK — Prince Harry walks into the courthouse in London on June 6, 2023. He was questioned on the stand about his written testimony against the Mirror Group Newspapers.

6 of 33

Prince Harry Arrives At High Court

Prince Harry Arrives At High Court — Prince Harry arrived at High Court for a lawsuit against DailyMail in March 2023. The Duke of Sussex sported a black suit for the preliminary hearing.

7 of 33

Prince Harry Heads Into High Court

Prince Harry Heads Into High Court — Prince Harry was seen getting out of his car on the way to High Court. He was joined in his lawsuit with other celebrities, including Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley.

8 of 33

Prince Harry honors Queen Elizabeth II

Prince Harry honors Queen Elizabeth II — Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrives to hold a vigil in honour of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall on September 17, 2022 in London, England. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.

9 of 33

Prince Harry & Meghan Markle At Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral Procession

Prince Harry & Meghan Markle At Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral Procession — Prince Harry holds hands with Meghan Markle while walking behind Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin in Sept. 2022. They followed Prince William and Kate Middleton at the procession

10 of 33

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle At Commonwealth Day

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle At Commonwealth Day — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend Commonwealth Day in March 2020. It was one of their last appearances as senior members of the royal family.

11 of 33

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle At An Event

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle At An Event — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Your Commonwealth Youth Challenge reception in London in July 2018. Meghan wore a beautiful yellow frock.

12 of 33

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Introduce Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Introduce Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor — Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, during a photocall with their newborn son, in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, Windsor, south England, Wednesday May 8, 2019. Baby Sussex was born Monday at 5:26 a.m. at an as-yet-undisclosed location. An overjoyed Harry said he and Meghan were “thinking” about names at the time.

13 of 33

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Visit The Andalusian Gardens In Morocco

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Visit The Andalusian Gardens In Morocco — In this Monday, Feb. 25, 2019 file photo, Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit the Andalusian Gardens in Rabat, Morocco. Sunday, May 19, 2019 marks the first wedding anniversary of the besotted couple. Meghan was pregnant with their son, Archie, at the time.

14 of 33

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle In Australia

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle In Australia — Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meet Ruby a mother Koala who gave birth to koala joey Meghan, named after Her Royal Highness, with a second joey named Harry after His Royal Highness during a visit to Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan were on a 16-day tour of Australia and the South Pacific.

15 of 33

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle On Their Wedding Day

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle On Their Wedding Day — In this Saturday, May 19, 2018 file photo, Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ride in an open-topped carriage after their wedding ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England. It looked like a true fairytale.

16 of 33

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Announcing Their Engagement

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Announcing Their Engagement — In this Monday Nov. 27, 2017 file photo, Britain’s Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle pose for photographers in the grounds of Kensington Palace in London, after announcing their engagement. Meghan looked on lovingly at her Prince.

17 of 33

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Pose For Engagement Photos

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Pose For Engagement Photos — In this Monday, Nov. 27, 2017 file photo, Britain’s Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle pose for photographers during a photocall on the grounds of Kensington Palace in London. They looked so incredibly happy.

18 of 33

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle — In this Monday, Sept. 25, 2017 file photo, Britain’s Prince Harry and his girlfriend Meghan Markle attend a wheelchair tennis event at the Invictus Games in Toronto. They chatted courtside.

19 of 33

Prince Harry At WE Day

Prince Harry At WE Day — Prince Harry speaks on stage during WE Day on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, in Toronto. He smiled for the crowd.

20 of 33

Prince Harry At The Tribhuwan International Airport

Prince Harry At The Tribhuwan International Airport — Prince Harry arrives in Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Saturday, March 19, 2016. He smiled with a number of officials and locals.

21 of 33

Barack Obama With Prince Harry

Barack Obama With Prince Harry — President Barack Obama meets Britain’s Prince Harry, left, at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015. Prince Harry was in the United States working on preparations for the Invictus Games, which took place in Orlando, FL, in May 2016.

22 of 33

Prince Harry After His Pre-Flight Checks

Prince Harry After His Pre-Flight Checks — In this file photo taken Dec. 12, 2012, made available Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, Britain’s Prince Harry or just plain Captain Wales as he is known in the British Army, talks to a TV crew after making his early morning pre-flight checks on the flight-line, from Camp Bastion southern Afghanistan. Palace officials said that Prince Harry is ending his role as a helicopter pilot and taking up a new job with the army in London.

23 of 33

Prince Harry Deploys To Afghanistan

Prince Harry Deploys To Afghanistan — In this image made available in London, Thursday Feb. 28, 2008, Britain’s Prince Harry patrols through the deserted town of Garmisir, Afghanistan, close to Forward Operating Base Delhi, on Wednesday Jan. 2, 2008. Prince Harry served on the front line in Afghanistan with the British Army.

24 of 33

Prince Harry In The Army

Prince Harry In The Army — In this picture released by Ministry of Defense in London, Tuesday, April 11, 2006, Britain’s Prince Harry wears the beret of the Blues and Royals, which forms part of the Household Cavalry, the oldest and most senior regiment in the Army, while taking part in his final training exercise, in Cyprus, in March 2006. A British newspaper reported Thursday April 26, 2007 that army chiefs were reconsidering their decision to allow Prince Harry to fight in Iraq with his army regiment. Clarence House, Prince Charles’ London office, insisted Harry was on track to go to Iraq, but declined to comment further.

25 of 33

Prince Harry At The Mants’ase Children’s Home

Prince Harry At The Mants’ase Children’s Home — Britain’s Prince Harry meets youngsters on the grounds of the Mants’ase children’s home, while on a return visit to Lesotho on April 24 2006. The Prince was in the country to launch his new charity called ‘Sentebale’, which means ‘Forget me not’ in memory of his mother Diana Princess of Wales.

26 of 33

Prince Harry At His Father’s Second Wedding

Prince Harry At His Father’s Second Wedding — Prince Harry (front) and his aunt Sophie of Wessex attend the wedding of Prince Harry’s father Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in Windsor, UK, on April 9, 2005. He looked on at photographers.

27 of 33

Prince Harry At Polo

Prince Harry At Polo — Prince Harry smiles after receiving his trophy following a polo test between England and Australia in Richmond, Australia, on Nov. 23, 2003. Young England defeated Young Australia 6-4 to win the Mountbatten Trophy.

28 of 33

Princes Harry And William With Their Father And Great Grandmother

Princes Harry And William With Their Father And Great Grandmother — Prince Harry and William pose for a photo with their father, Prince Charles, and their great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth, the mother of Queen Elizabeth II. It appeared to be a candid photo.

29 of 33

Prince William And Prince Harry Walk Behind Their Mother’s Casket

Prince William And Prince Harry Walk Behind Their Mother’s Casket — Prince William (left) and Prince Harry, the sons of Diana, Princess of Wales, bow their heads as their mother’s coffin is taken out of Westminster Abbey following her funeral service in 1997. The boys were completely shaken by their mother’s death.

30 of 33

Prince Harry With His Parents And Brother, Prince William

Prince Harry With His Parents And Brother, Prince William — The Prince and Princess of Wales are shown with their sons, Prince Harry and Prince William in the Sicily Islands in June 1989. It was a lovely family photo.

31 of 33

Prince Harry And His Mom Chat At A Royal Event

Prince Harry And His Mom Chat At A Royal Event — Diana, Princess of Wales with her son Prince Harry having a chat at July 5, 1995 event. The mother and son looked so sweet.

32 of 33

Princess Diana Holds Prince Harry

Princess Diana Holds Prince Harry — The Princess of Wales holds son Prince Harry while royal families posed for photographers at the Royal Palace, Majorca, Spain on Sunday, August 9, 1987. It was so easy to see just how much Princess Diana loved her sons.

33 of 33

Prince Harry At His First Day Of Kindergarten

Prince Harry At His First Day Of Kindergarten — In this Sept. 16, 1987 file photo, Britain’s Prince Harry waves to photographers whilst holding a ‘Thomas The Tank Engine’ bag on his first day at a kindergarten in Notting Hill, West London. He looked so sweet in his little ensemble.

Click to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter to get the hottest celeb news.

ad