Prince Harry biography

The Prince of Wales's younger son, Prince Harry, is third in line to the throne.

Prince Henry - always known as Prince Harry - is third in line of succession to the throne, behind his father, The Prince of Wales, and his elder brother, Prince William.

Prince Henry Charles Albert David was born at 4.20pm on September 15, 1984 at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, in central London. He weighed 6lb 14oz. The Prince was christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie, on December 21, 1984, in St George's Chapel, Windsor.

Prince Harry attended the same schools as his brother. He started at Mrs Jane Mynors' nursery school in west London from September 1987, when he was three, attending for just two mornings a week at first. While there he appeared in school nativity plays - including his first speaking role, as a shepherd, in 1988.

On September 11, 1989, Prince Harry joined Prince William at the pre-prep Wetherby School, also in west London - on mornings only for the first few weeks. At the end of that term he sang a solo at the school's Christmas concert. While Harry was still at Wetherby, Prince William started at Ludgrove School in Berkshire. Prince Harry joined him there in September 1992.

Like Prince William, Prince Harry attended the VE and VJ commemorations in London in 1995. In November 1997 Harry accompanied The Prince of Wales to South Africa, where he was able to go on safari before joining his father at a concert featuring the Spice Girls and meeting President Nelson Mandela.

Prince Harry walked behind the cortege of his mother, The Princess of Wales, at her funeral in Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997, accompanied by his brother, father, grandfather and uncle.

In 1998 both young Princes were with The Prince of Wales in Canada, for brief public appearances and a skiing holiday in Whistler, British Columbia. Like his brother, Prince Harry has become a keen skier, joining their father on winter holidays in Switzerland.

In the summer of 1998, Prince Harry accompanied his father to France to watch England play in a World Cup match.

In September 1998 Harry started at Eton College, Windsor.

On January 2, 2000, Prince William and Prince Harry accompanied The Prince of Wales on a visit to Cardiff. They heard rap music and dance as well as hymns and readings in Welsh and English at the Tabernacl and joined 60,000 people for a special edition of the BBC's Songs of Praise at the Millennium Stadium.

Prince Harry celebrated his 18th birthday on September 15, 2002, when Harry gave an interview, and a series of pictures by top photograper Mario Testino were released. To mark the occasion, Her Majesty the Queen gave the Prince his own unique Coat of Arms.

In June 2003, Prince Harry finished school at Eton College and marked the occasion with a special photocall. A week later, he learnt his A level results: Art - B, Geography - D.

Prince Harry then left England to spend the first part of his gap year in Australia and then went to Africa where he worked in an orphanage in Lesotho.

In June 2004, Prince Harry and his brother Prince William attended the funeral of their maternal grandmother, Mrs Frances Shand Kydd in Oban, Scotland.

During the private service, Prince William read a lesson from the Jerusalem Bible, Romans Chapter 8; Verses 35 - 39.

Later, Prince Harry and his brother Prince William joined members of the Spencer family at a private burial at a cemetery at the edge of the town.

Prince Harry will return from working and travelling in Southern Africa in July 2004 where he has spent part of his gap year.

On his return he will begin preparing for The Regular Commissions Board (RCB) exams. If Prince Harry passes the RCB he intends to enter Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in January 2005.

In the meantime, Prince Harry will continue a gap year programme designed to broaden his work experience.

Prince Harry will spend part of July and August training with the Rugby Football Union to become an Assistant Rugby Development Officer (RDO) for young people.

On completion of his training course in September, Prince Harry will start work with other RDOs providing coaching to clubs, schools and communities throughout England.

The role of the RDOs is to promote the game in England, develop and improve playing and coaching standards and increase participation in the game at all youth levels.

In the summer of 2004, Prince Harry will then spend time gaining work experience on a Duchy of Cornwall farm.

In late autumn of this year, Prince Harry will spend six weeks working on a polo farm overseas to develop his polo skills and learn how a polo farm operates.