Prince Harry will today be celebrating his 34th birthday – his first birthday as a married man.

Thirty-four years ago on 15 September 1984, a young prince was born.

The younger brother of Prince William, the future King of England, and the second and youngest son of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess Of Wales, Harry has grown up in the public eye.

Born Henry Charles Albert David, he became known as Harry to family and friends and the moniker soon stuck.

While it’s likely you’ve not been invited to Harry’s birthday party today, don’t fret: celebrate the red-headed royal’s birthday by taking a trip down memory lane with our vast collection of images documenting Harry’s life from birth to marriage.

Here, we give you, Prince Harry through the years…

A Prince is born

Harry was born in the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, on 15 September 1984 at 4.20pm. He weighed 6lb 14oz.

It’s long been a royal family tradition for royal babies to be photographed for the first time in their mother’s arms on the steps of the Lindo Wing and Prince Charles and Diana, Princess Of Wales followed suit. They had stayed in hospital overnight, taking Harry – who was third in line to the throne at the time – home to Kensington Palace on Sunday 16 September.

Harry was baptised on Friday 21 December at St George’s Chapel, where, thirty-three years later, he went on to marry Meghan Markle.

 

Age 1 – Learning to crawl

By the age of one, Prince Harry had mastered the art of crawling.

Here, he is pictured in action at home in Kensington Palace on 4 October 1985, wearing a cute sailor-inspired outfit.

 

Age 2 – The cheekiness start to show

At two, it was clear from family photos that Harry was growing into the cheeky younger brother he is still seen as today.

Here, Harry is pictured at the start of the festive season on 1 December 1986 along with Prince William, Charles, Diana and their pet Jack Russell terrier Tigga, who was born the same year as Harry.

 

Age 3 – Off to nursery

Just one day after his third birthday in 1987, Prince Harry was heading to nursery.

On 16 September, Harry had his first day at Mrs Jane Mynors nursery school in London’s Notting Hill and was pictured confidently waving to paparazzi as he arrived in his cute matching blue uniform and Thomas The Tank Engine school bag.

 

Age 4 – First day at school

Just before his fifth birthday, Harry started primary school on 11 September 1989. And the pictures melted the nation.

Official photos were released of Harry and William stood on the steps of Wetherby School in their smart uniforms with matching hats and socks.

The cutest part of this moment is the way Harry is looking up adoringly at his big brother with a big smile on his face, while the ever-professional William looks straight on at the cameras to pose for the milestone moment.

Harry went on to attend Ludgrove School before enrolling at Eton College.

 

Age 5 – An army boy in the making

Prince Harry’s desire to work in the army may have been visible as early as when he was five-years-old.

Here, the now-sixth in line to the throne, sits in Army uniform and helmet while getting a tank ride during a visit to a British regiment in Germany on 1 January 1990.

 

Age 6 – One of many family trips to the slopes

The royals love a trip to the slopes and in April 1991, Harry enjoyed his first of many in Lech in Austria.

Here, the two princes sandwich their mother Diana as they ride a ski lift to the top of some slopes.

Harry is so besotted with the slopes, it’s believed he chose the plush resort of Verbier in the Swiss Alps for his stag do earlier this year, ahead of his wedding to Meghan Markle in May.

 

Age 7 – A prince in the public eye

Diana may have ensured her two boys grew up enjoying ‘normal’ activities – such as trips to Disneyland or playing hide and seek around their home – but Harry was still a prince in the public eye and he knew how to behave.

Here, suddenly looking like a mature young man, Harry acted the picture-perfect great-grandson for the Trooping The Colour in June 1992 at the age of seven, riding a carriage along with his mother and his great-grandmother, The Queen Mother.

 

Age 8 – Thorpe Park family days

It was evident how important it was for Diana to spend quality time with her boys, just like this fun day out to Thorpe Park they enjoyed on 13 April 1993.

Videos and photos of their day out – which saw them joined on the rides by Thorpe Park’s General Manager Colin Dawson, while royal protection officers followed them around – showing them all having a whale of a time. And Diana rocked casual-chic in her Hard Rock jacket.

This visit was their third year in a row but there was no special treatment for the royals – Diana had insisted they queued for all of the rides, just like all of the other thrill-seekers.

 

Age 9 – Time to hit the slopes again

Here, pictured on 27 March 1994, a nine-year-old Prince Harry joins his brother and mother on a horse-drawn sleigh as they leave their hotel in Lech following another skiing trip.

 

Age 10 – A young boy very close to his mother

When Harry was 10, he’d already mastered the slopes so no doubt showed off his skills to younger cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

Here are some adorable images showing William, Harry, Beatrice and Eugenie on a ski trip in Klosters on 4 January 1995.

 

Age 11 – Boys will be boys

This photo of Harry and William in July 1996, when Harry was 11 and William 14, shows their bond, their cheekiness and how Diana’s desire of them to have fun and not be stifled was a reality.

The boys struggle to contain themselves during the National Anthem at The Royal Tournament at Earl’s Court.

 

Age 12 – The toughest year of Harry’s life

When Prince Harry turned 12, he faced the hardest time of his life.

Pictured above with Prince Charles, Harry is seen taking part in a shoot at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk in November 1996 – three months after his parents divorced.

However, nine months later on 31 August 1997, when Harry was still aged 12, his world came crashing down around him as his mother, Diana, Princess Of Wales, was killed in a car crash in Paris.

The horrific accident happened just two weeks before Harry’s 13th birthday. He and William had been in the Royal Family’s Scottish holiday home Balmoral with their father and cousins at the time.

Below, Harry is pictured with his brother, Prince William, father, Prince Charles, uncle, Earl Spencer and grandfather, Prince Philip, at his mother’s funeral on 6 September.

 

Age 13 – Harry starts at Eton

One year on from his mother’s death, a 13-year-old Harry was starting senior school.

Here, he is pictured on 3 September 1998 looking excited as he marks his first day at Eton College, wearing the traditional Eton tail coat.

The Windsor family tradition had been to send children to Gordonstoun in Scotland. Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward had all been schooled there, but Eton was the school Diana’s side of the family had attended.

 

Age 14 – A special relationship with his dad

Here, Harry is pictured with his father and brother on Christmas Day in 1998.

The trio are pictured walking through crowds as they head to Sandringham Church on Sandringham Estate for the traditional Christmas Day service.

 

Age 15 – Polo boy

A candid photo of Prince Harry enjoying himself at the polo – a pastime he loves.

Here, he is seen on 8 July 2000 holding a whip at The Beaufort Polo Club. He was watching his dad play in a charity match.

 

Age 16 – Girls, girls, girls

By the age of 16, Harry was quite the Polo pro, pictured above galloping on the field at the Beauford Polo Club in June 2001.

 

Age 17 – A farewell to his great-grandmother

At the age of 17, Harry suffered another great loss when his great grandmother, the Queen Mother, died on 30 March 2002 at the age of 101.

Her state funeral was held on 9 April and here, Prince Harry is pictured walking behind the Gun Carriage bearing her coffin.

 

Age 18 – Harry finishes at Eton

Prince Harry is here pictured in his dorm at Eton College in March 2003, thee months before he completed his education at the prestigious school.

He left with two A-Levels – a grade B in Art and a D in Geography. His strongest subject was sports and he showed a keen interest in rugby and polo at school.

One of his former Eton teachers, Sarah Forsyth, claimed that Harry cheated in his Art exam at Eton, but this was vehemently denied by the Royal Family and Eton itself.

 

Age 19 – Gap year

After finishing at Eton College, Harry decided to take a gap year and travelled to Australia to work for three months, just like his father had done in his younger years.

Harry also travelled to Lesotho in Southern Africa, working with orphaned children. It was here that he produced the documentary film The Forgotten Kingdom.

Here, Harry is pictured in Sydney’s Taronga Zoo holding an echidna – which are also known as spiny anteaters.

 

Age 20 – Harry’s biggest controversy yet

On 13 January 2005, when Harry was 20-years-old, he was caught in his biggest controversy to date.

While his party-loving side was well documented in the press, he found himself in serious troubled when he was photographed at Highgrove House at a Colonial and Native themed costume party wearing a Nazi German Afrika Korps uniform complete with a swastika armband. Prince William was also at the party and had decided to dress as a lion.

Harry ended up issuing a public statement saying sorry for his tasteless choice of costume.

His statement, issued by Clarence House, said: ‘I am very sorry if I have caused any offence or embarrassment to anyone. It was a poor choice of costume and I apologise.’

A spokesman for Clarence House added: ‘The Prince of Wales knows Prince Harry is very sorry if he has caused offence.’ It was reported at the time that Charles had ordered Harry to pay a private visit to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland to reflect.

 

Age 21 – Harry’s first serious relationship

Harry is here pictured on 30 July 2006 at the age of 21 with his then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy.

Confirming their romance in an interview for his 21st birthday, Harry had said he ‘would love to tell everyone how amazing she is but once I start talking about that, I have left myself open… There is truth and there is lies and unfortunately I cannot get the truth across’.

 

Age 22 – Ten years on from his mother’s death

Here, Harry is pictured engaging in a public display of affection with Chelsy while in the Royal box at The Concert For Diana on 1 July 2007.

Harry and Chelsy dated for five years, splitting in 2009 and then dating on and off until 2011. They remain friends.

 

Age 23 – A strong-minded lieutenant

Having joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 8 May 2005 after his gap year, Harry began army life as Officer Cadet Wales. One year later, in April 2006 he completed his officer training and became a Cornet (second lieutenant) in the Blues And Royals, which is a regiment of the Household Cavalry in the British Army. By April 2008, Harry was made a lieutenant.

Before it was decided Harry would be deployed to Afghanistan in 2007, there had been a public debate over whether the third in line to the throne should be allowed to fight on the front line.

Harry had expressed his wishes to go, saying at the time: ‘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.’

However, by May, it was announced that he would no longer be allowed to go as threats to his life had been made which put his fellow soldiers at risk.

The following year, following further training, the Ministry Of Defence revealed Harry had been secretly deployed as a Forward Air Controller to Helmand Province in Afghanistan and he’d been there for the previous 10 weeks.

There had been a blackout placed on the information to protect Harry and his comrades’ lives but it soon leaked.

In the above image, Harry is pictured in January 2008 in Southern Afghanistan, holding an SLR rifle on patrol through the town of Garmisir.

Harry was presented with an Operational Service Medal for his tour by his aunt, Princess Anne. He was the first member of the Royal Family to serve in a war zone since his uncle, Prince Andrew, flew helicopters during the Falklands War.

 

Age 24 – Following in his brother’s footsteps

It was announced that Harry had decided to follow in Prince William’s footsteps and would learn to fly military helicopters in October 2008.

Here, Harry and William are pictured during a photocall at RAF Shawbury on 18 June 2009.

 

Age 25 – Following in his mother’s footsteps

At the age of 25, Harry was walking proof his mother lived on in both he and William, thanks to their consistent charity efforts.

Here, Harry is pictured walking with a deminer from The HALO Trust, which is a British charity dedicated to the removal of landmines, on 21 June 2010 in Cahora Bassa, Mozambique.

Diana had visited The HALO Trust eight months before her death.

 

Age 26 – Best man duties call

On 29 April 2011, Prince Harry took on one of the most important roles in his life – that of best man at his brother’s wedding to Kate Middleton.

Here, he is pictured leaving Westminster Abbey following the ceremony alongside Pippa Middleton, Kate’s younger sister.

One of the most iconic moments from their wedding was when Harry was cheekily whispering and joking with William while stood at the front of the altar before Kate arrived.

 

Age 27 – A single man

While his brother was happily married, Harry was enjoying single life. He was linked to both Florence Brudenell Bruce and Mollie King when he was 27, but Cressida Bonas was his only confirmed girlfriend at this time. They dated until 2014.

Here, Harry is pictured enjoying the London Olympic Games with his brother and sister-in-law on 2 August 2012.

 

Age 28 – Harry, Kate and Wills remain inseparable

Harry is famously close to Kate – here pictured with her and William at the opening ceremony of The Making Of Harry Potter at the Warner Bros Studios on 26 April 2013.

 

Age 29 – The launch of the Invictus Games

Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games, which are for sick and wounded military personnel, in 2014 at the age of 29.

Here he is pictured talking with wheelchair basketball players at the Copper Box Arena in London during the launch on 6 March 2014.

 

Age 30 – A working man

Here, Harry is pictured sharing a tender moment with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, on 18 May 2015 during the Chelsea Flower Show.

Throughout this year, Harry continued his work started with the Invictus Games by visiting various wounded service personnel up and down the country.

It was announced in June 2015 that Harry was leaving the Armed Forces.

 

Age 31 – A BFF in Barack Obama

Prince Harry is famously very friendly with Barack Obama, having met a number of times.

The pair met in the White House on 28 October 2015 during Harry’s one-day visit to Washington DC where he had been meeting injured service personnel.

Harry launched the Invictus Games Orlando in 2016 with First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden at Fort Belvoir.

 

Age 32 – His romance with Meghan goes public

On 8 November 2016, Kensington Palace confirmed that, following months of speculation, Prince Harry was dating American actress Meghan Markle.

But it wasn’t the fact he’d finally confirmed the romance that made the headlines – it was his furious statement to the press and public in which he defended her that stole the news.

Above, Harry is pictured on 3 December 2016 – one month following his statement on Meghan – in Surama, Guyana, during his royal visit to the Caribbean.

 

Age 33 – Harry and Meghan’s debut, a royal engagement and a royal wedding

It was on 25 September 2017 that Harry and Meghan made their public debut at the Invictus Games in Toronto.

On 27 November, the happy couple announced they were engaged to be married and on 19 May 2018, they tied the knot at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

Harry also become an uncle for the third time when Prince Louis was born in April, following Princess Charlotte in May 2015 and Prince George in July 2013.

That’s one heck of a busy year for a 33-year-old Harry.

With his and Meghan’s first official visit to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga approaching in October – which is their first official overseas tour as husband and wife – Harry’s throwing himself head-first into a busy 34th year, as well.

MORE : Prince Harry tells Royal Marine recruits to prepare for ‘blood sweat and tears’

MORE : Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga tour – everything we know about it

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.