He’s good-looking. He’s a royal. He married the love of his life. He has published a very controversial autobiography. And he’s one of the most popular public figures in the world right now. Who wouldn’t want to know every little detail about the polemic Duke of Sussex?
Whether you don't approve of the Prince's lifestyle or you’re proudly pro Harry & Meghan, here are nine interesting facts about Harry Windsor:
Photo credit: Jim Nix
1. He was a bit of a wild child
Prince Harry soon became one of the most talked about royals in the news thanks to his wild-child ways, and although he quieted down for some years, it seemed like every few months his name was popping up in the tabloids for all the wrong reasons.
Prince Harry made the news posing in a Nazi uniform in 2005 and getting photographed naked in Las Vegas in 2012, but his wild ways started well before that.
Apparently Harry started drinking at the tender age of 12 and had his first cigarette when he was eight years old. If you take any free tour around Buckingham Palace, your guide will probably let you know that Harry also used to host some pretty crazy parties in King Charles’ country house when he was studying at Eton, and the house was given the nickname “Club H” as a result.
2. His fake Facebook name was Spike Wells
Prince Harry had a secret Facebook account under the name of “Spike Wells” until 2012, but his advisers told him to shut it down after that pesky little naked photo scandal in Las Vegas.
No word yet as to whether Prince Harry has created another “secret” social media account, but he and his wife are assiduous to Instagram.
3. He reeeeally likes ice cream
If you want to warm up Prince Harry’s heart, then some ice cold ice cream may do the trick. Apparently, Prince Harry loves ice cream so much he actually ran after an ice cream truck in Afghanistan during an interview in 2013. The run was recorded on video and went viral online (naturally) and you can watch the video here.
4. He has flower power
Much like his father King Charles III, Prince Harry has a passion for botany and enjoys studying flowers. He even made a surprise visit with his charity Sentebale at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2013 and showed the late Queen Elizabeth around the African-inspired garden in the hopes of bringing attention to orphans in Lesotho.
Photo credit: UK In Italy
5. Geography isn’t his strong suit
In 2013, Prince Harry completed his education from Eton College in Berkshire with two A grades, one B grade in art… and a D in geography.
6. He worked as a jackaroo
During his gap year, Prince Harry worked at a Queensland ranch in Australia as a jackaroo, and was responsible for rounding up herds of bull on a cattle station, mustering cattle and mending fences. Harry ended up spending three months on the 40,000-acre property, which was owned by Annie and Noel Hill (who were friends with the late Princess Diana).
7. He’s a music video superstar
In his polemic book 'Spare', Prince Harry reveals the music artist he listened to in his lowest moments in life. But Prince Harry is not only a music lover, he's got some talent himself too.
Back in 2012, Prince Harry showed off his impressive tambourine skills in Gary Barlow’s music video for “Sing”, which was the official song for the 2012 Diamond Jubilee. The song ended up being released as part of a commemorative Jubilee album by Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band, and the video was a huge hit on YouTube as well.
8. He’s a big Star Trek fan
Hold onto your hats Star Wars nerds, because apparently Prince Harry is a massive Stark Trek fan. As a matter of fact, his love for the TV series inspired him to become one of the first royals to visit space, and he was desperate to take one of the 430 spots on Sir Richard Branson’s first Virgin Galactic sub-orbital flights.
9. He’s a loving dad
Prince Harry might have become a talking point after his marriage to Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, but fewer people might know that he's a devoted and loving father. In 2016, the same year the couple met, Harry declared that he couldn't wait to have kids of their own. It seems Archie and Lilibet are lucky to have such a dedicated dad!
If you want to know more about the British Royal Family while you explore the iconic landmarks of the UK's capital, you might want to consider checking out the numerous free tours in London that operate daily.
