Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
A prince who broke centuries of royal convention to forge an independent life focused on mental health advocacy and his own family's peace.
Born 1984 (age 42)·British prince·Birthday: September 15·Millennials
Biography
Born Prince Henry of Wales, Harry spent his youth in the blinding, often cruel glare of global media, a experience sharpened by the tragic loss of his mother, Diana. His early adulthood followed a prescribed royal path: military service, ceremonial duties, and charity patronage. Yet a restlessness was always apparent. After a decade of active army service that included two frontline deployments to Afghanistan, he began to publicly challenge the press intrusion that had haunted his family. This culminated, alongside his wife Meghan Markle, in a unprecedented step back as senior royals in 2020. Relocating to California, Harry has since reconstructed his role around personal projects: candid discussions on trauma through initiatives like the Invictus Games, and media ventures aimed at controlling his own story. His journey represents a profound and ongoing negotiation between inherited duty and a self-determined identity.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Prince was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Prince Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Prince's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Founded the Invictus Games in 2014, an international adaptive sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick service personnel.
- Served in the British Army for ten years, rising to the rank of Captain and completing two operational tours in Afghanistan.
- Co-founded the nonprofit Archewell with his wife, Meghan, focusing on media production and philanthropic activities.
Did You Know?
He is the first senior British royal to have graduated from university, earning a degree from the University of St Andrews.
He undertook helicopter flight training to become an Apache helicopter co-pilot gunner, one of the army's most demanding roles.
He and Meghan named their daughter Lilibet, a family nickname for the late Queen Elizabeth II.
“I lost my mum at the age of 12, and I therefore I shut down all of my emotions for the last 20 years.”
