by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Mike Tindall, husband of Zara Phillips

Mike Tindall is the husband of Zara Phillips, daughter of The Princess Royal. He was born Michael James Tindall on October 18, 1978, in Otley, West Yorkshire, England to Phil and Linda Tindall.

Mike was educated at the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield, England. After graduating, he joined Bath Rugby and played with them until 2005. During this time, he was also a member of the England Rugby team, playing with them from 2000-2011. In 2003, England won the Rugby World Cup, played in Australia. Along with his teammates, he was created a Member of the British Empire (MBE) after the win.

Along with the national team, he continued playing local rugby. In 2005, he left Bath and began playing for Gloucester Rugby for the next seven years. He also played, in 2012 and 2013, for Barbarians FC, an invitational team based in England.

On July 15, 2014, Mike announced his retirement from professional rugby. However, he has recently registered with Minchinhampton RFC, a local club near his home.

photo: The Guardian/PA

Having met in Australia in 2003, during the Rugby World Cup, Mike became engaged to Zara Phillips, daughter of The Princess Royal, and eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II. The engagement was announced by Buckingham Palace in December 2010. They married on July 30, 2011, at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Mike and Zara have two daughters and one son:

• Mia Grace Tindall (born January 17, 2014, at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucestershire, England)
• Lena Elizabeth Tindall (born June 18, 2018, at the Stroud Maternity Unit in Gloucestershire, England)
• Lucas Philip Tindall (born March 21, 2021, born at the family home on The Princess Royal’s Gloucestershire estate)

Mike serves as a brand ambassador for UFXMarkets, and charity ambassador for The Midlands Air Ambulance. In addition, he is the Patron of Rugby for Heroes and is a regular participant in many charity sporting events. He and his wife are typically in attendance at major family events, as well as the occasional formal function such as Trooping the Colour.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo: USA Today/WireImage

Zara Phillips Tindall

Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips was born on May 15, 1981, at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London, England. She is the younger child of Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, and Captain Mark Phillips and the second grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh. Like her brother, she holds no royal titles or styles but is still a member of the British Royal Family. She is formally styled as Mrs. Michael Tindall MBE, however, she uses her maiden name professionally.

Zara and her brother Peter, 1984. photo: NY Daily News

Zara has an elder brother:

• Peter Phillips (born 1977), married Autumn Kelly, had two daughters, divorced

Zara was christened in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace on July 27, 1981, by The Dean of Windsor. Her godparents are:

• Prince Andrew, The Duke of York – her uncle
• Leonora Anson, Countess of Lichfield – a lady-in-waiting to her mother
• Helen, Lady Stewart – wife of Sir Jackie Stewart, a family friend
• Andrew Parker Bowles – a close friend of her mother, and former husband of The Duchess of Cornwall
• Hugh Thomas – a friend of her parents

Zara was educated at the Beaudesert Park School in Gloucestershire, the Port Regis School in Dorset, England and Gordonstoun School in Scotland. She later attended the University of Exeter, qualifying as a physiotherapist, specializing in equine physiotherapy.

photo: The Telegraph/Mark Stewart

An accomplished equestrian from a young age, Zara participated in the 2005 European Eventing Championships, earning both team and individual gold medals. The following year she won team silver, and individual gold, at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games. Having won gold, she was the reigning Eventing World Champion until 2010. In 2007, she again won team gold at the European Eventing Championships.

Zara receiving her Olympic medal from The Princess Royal, 2012. photo: Rex Features

In 2006, she was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and in 2007, was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to Equestrianism. Having been unable to compete in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic games due to injuries to her horse, Zara was named a member of the 2012 British Equestrian Team for the London Olympics. She was part of the Silver medal-winning team event, receiving her medal from her mother, The Princess Royal, herself a participant in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.

photo: Daily Mail/AFP/Getty Images

On December 21, 2010, Buckingham Palace announced her engagement to English rugby player, Mike Tindall. The couple first met in 2003 during the Rugby World Cup in Australia. Zara and Mike were married on July 30, 2011, at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. A reception followed at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, her grandmother’s official residence in  Edinburgh, Scotland.

Zara and Mike have two daughters and one son:

• Mia Grace Tindall (born January 17, 2014 at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucestershire, England)
• Lena Elizabeth Tindall (born June 18, 2018 at the Stroud Maternity Unit in Gloucestershire, England)
• Lucas Philip Tindall (born March 21, 2021 at the family home on The Princess Royal’s Gloucestershire estate)

In addition to her equestrian pursuits, Zara is often seen at major royal events in the United Kingdom, such as The Trooping of the Colour. She is one of the godparents of Prince George of Wales, son of her cousin, Prince William, Prince of Wales.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo: Zimbio

Autumn Phillips

Autumn Phillips was the wife of Peter Phillips, son of The Princess Royal, and the eldest grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh. On February 11. 2020, Peter and Autumn announced that they intended to divorce, and the divorce was final in 2021. Autumn Patricia Kelly was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on May 3, 1978, to Brian Kelly and Katherine “Kitty” McCarthy. She has a twin brother, Christopher, an elder brother, Kevin, and two younger half-siblings, Jessica and Patrick.

Raised in the suburbs of Montreal, she attended a Roman Catholic primary school, and then St Thomas High School in Pointe-Claire. She then attended McGill University, graduating in 2002 with a Bachelors Degree in East Asian studies. Following university, she began working as a management consultant.

In 2003, Autumn met her future husband at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. Soon after, she relocated to the United Kingdom, working for an American computer firm in England. She and Peter lived together at his apartment in Kensington, and a cottage on his mother’s Gatcombe Park estate. Autumn later worked as a personal assistant to Sir Michael Parkinson.

photo: The Telegraph/PA

The couple’s engagement was announced in July 2007. Autumn converted from Roman Catholicism to The Church of England, thereby avoiding her husband losing his place in the line of succession to the British throne. The wedding took place on May 17, 2008, at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, with a reception held at Frogmore House. The couple lived in Hong Kong for several years, but returned to England in 2010, just before the birth of their first child.

Autumn and Peter have two daughters, both born at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. They are the eldest great-grandchildren of The Queen.

• Savannah Ann Kathleen Phillips (born 2010)
• Isla Elizabeth Phillips (born 2012)

On February 11. 2020, Peter and Autumn Phillips announced that they intended to divorce. They had separated in 2019. A statement said, in part: “Both families were naturally sad at the announcement, but fully supportive of Peter and Autumn in the joint decision to co-parent their children. Both Peter and Autumn will remain in Gloucestershire to bring up their two children where they have been settled for a number of years.”

The divorce of Peter and Autumn Phillips became final on June 14, 2021. The statement on behalf of the couple read: “Mr. Peter Phillips and Mrs. Autumn Phillips are pleased to be able to report that the financial aspects of their divorce have been resolved through agreement, the terms of which have been approved and ordered by the High Court today. Whilst this is a sad day for Peter and Autumn, they continue to put the well-being and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah and Isla first and foremost. Both Peter and Autumn are pleased to have resolved matters amicably with the children firmly at the forefront of those thoughts and decisions. Peter & Autumn have requested privacy and consideration for their children as the family adapts to a new chapter in their lives.”

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo: The Times/Getty Images

Peter Phillips, son of The Princess Royal

Peter Phillips is the eldest child of The Princess Royal and the eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II. Although he does not hold any royal titles, he is still very much a part of the British Royal Family.

Peter with his sister Zara, 1982. photo: Parent Dish/PA

Peter Mark Andrew Phillips was born on November 15, 1977, at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, England. He is the first child of Princess Anne, The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips. He is also the first grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. At the time of his parents’ marriage, it is believed that his father was offered a peerage but declined. Therefore, Peter and his younger sister Zara do not have any titles or styles.

Peter has one sibling:

• Zara Phillips (born 1981), married Mike Tindall, had two daughters and one son

Peter was christened in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace on December 22, 1977, by the Archbishop of Canterbury.  His godparents are:

• The Prince of Wales (his paternal uncle)
• The Right Reverend Geoffrey Tiarks
• Captain Hamish Lochore, an equestrian colleague of his parents
• Lady Cecil Cameron of Lochiel
• Jane Holderness-Roddam, an equestrian colleague of his parents

Peter attended Port Regis Prep School in Dorset and then, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncles, attended Gordonstoun School in Scotland. He then enrolled at the University of Exeter, graduating in 2000 with a degree in sports science.

An avid sportsman, his career has been spent working in the area of sport and sporting events. After two years as an account manager for Jaguar, and another two years with WilliamsF1, Peter took a job as Head of Global Sponsorships, Global Banking, and Markets, for the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2005. In 2012, he left RBS to become Managing Director of SEL UK. He is also involved, along with his father, in coordinating the annual Festival of British Eventing, held each year at Gatcombe Park, his mother’s estate in Gloucestershire.

photo: Hello!

In 2003, at the Canadian Grand Prix, in Montreal, he met his future wife, Autumn Kelly. She soon moved to the United Kingdom and the couple lived together at his apartment in Kensington, and a cottage on his mother’s Gatcombe Park estate. Their engagement was announced on July 28, 2007. They married on May 17, 2008, at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. A reception followed at Frogmore House. He was the first of The Queen’s grandchildren to marry. The couple caused some controversy when they were allegedly paid £500,000 by Hello! magazine for an interview and wedding photos. The couple resided in Hong Kong, where Peter was working at the time for RBS, before returning to England in 2010.  In most recent news, Peter has joined with business leaders and diplomats from around the world in the establishment of the ‘China Jockey Club’ – an organization designed to foster the promotion of horse racing in China.

Peter and Autumn have two daughters, both born at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. They are the first two great-grandchildren of The Queen, and both have dual citizenship, making them the first Canadians in the line of succession to the British throne.

• • Savannah Anna Kathleen Phillips (born 2010)
  • Isla Elizabeth Phillips (born 2012)

On February 11, 2020, Peter and Autumn Phillips announced that they intended to divorce. They had separated in 2019. A statement said, in part: “Both families were naturally sad at the announcement, but fully supportive of Peter and Autumn in the joint decision to co-parent their children. Both Peter and Autumn will remain in Gloucestershire to bring up their two children where they have been settled for a number of years.”

The divorce of Peter and Autumn Phillips became final on June 14, 2021. The statement on behalf of the couple read: “Mr. Peter Phillips and Mrs. Autumn Phillips are pleased to be able to report that the financial aspects of their divorce have been resolved through agreement, the terms of which have been approved and ordered by the High Court today. Whilst this is a sad day for Peter and Autumn, they continue to put the wellbeing and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah and Isla first and foremost. Both Peter and Autumn are pleased to have resolved matters amicably with the children firmly at the forefront of those thoughts and decisions. Peter & Autumn have requested privacy and consideration for their children as the family adapts to a new chapter in their lives.”

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson. She is the sixth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh.

Princess Eugenie was born on March 23, 1990, at the Portland Hospital in London, England. She is reportedly named for Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg (later Queen of Spain), a granddaughter of Queen Victoria; and The Princess Helena, third daughter of Queen Victoria.

Eugenie has one sibling:

• Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (born 1988), married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, had one daughter

photo: Days of Majesty

Eugenie was christened by Peter Nott, Bishop of Norwich on December 23, 1990, at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham. It was the first public christening of a member of the royal family. Her godparents were:

• James Ogilvy (her father’s second cousin)
• Captain Alastair Ross (her father’s former commander on HMS Edinburgh)
• Mrs. Ronald Ferguson (her mother’s stepmother)
• Mrs. Patrick (Julia) Dodd-Noble (her parents’ friend)
• Miss Louise Blacker (her mother’s friend)

Following a year at the Winkfield Montessori School, she attended the Upton House School in Windsor from 1993-1995. She then attended Coworth Park School from 1995-2001, St George’s School from 2001-2003, and Marlborough College from 2003-2008. Following a gap year, she enrolled at Newcastle University and graduated in 2012 with a 2:1 in English Literature and History of Art.

After internships at Christies and The Royal Collection Trust, Eugenie moved to New York and worked as a Benefit Auctions Manager for Paddle8, an online auction firm.  In July 2015, she moved back to London to work for the Hauser & Wirth art gallery as an associate director.

Princess Eugenie only occasionally undertakes any official royal duties. She does undertake occasional public engagements related to organizations she is involved with, such as the Teenage Cancer Trust. and Children in Crisis.

photo: Daily Mail/REX

Princess Eugenie had been in a long-term relationship with Jack Brooksbank. He is the former manager of the nightclub Mahiki, in Mayfair, London, frequented by the younger royals. In 2022, he began working in marketing, sales, and promotion for property developer Michael Meldman’s Discovery Land Company in Portugal

Engagement Photo: Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie; Credit – https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily

Buckingham Palace announced on January 22, 2018: “The Duke and Duchess of York are delighted to announce the engagement of Princess Eugenie to Mr. Jack Brooksbank. Her Royal Highness and Mr. Brooksbank became engaged in Nicaragua earlier this month. The wedding will take place in the Autumn of 2018 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, with further details to be announced in due course.”

Eugenie and Jack were married on October 12, 2018, at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. Until her marriage, Eugenie was styled Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York.  In keeping with the tradition, she dropped the territorial designation “of York” upon marriage, and is now officially styled Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank.

• Unofficial Royalty: Wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank

Photo Credit – https://www.facebook.com/TheBritishMonarchy

August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, the first child of Jack and Princess Eugenie was born by cesarean section on February 9, 2021, at Portland Hospital in London, England. He was the first grandchild of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York.

• August: The name August comes from August’s maternal great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819-1861), Queen Victoria’s husband, whose full name in German was Franz Albrecht August Karl Emanuel.
• Philip: The name Philip comes from August’s great-grandfather Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born 1921)
• Hawke: The name Hawke comes from August’s paternal great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Reverend Edward Hawke Brooksbank (1789-1883). He graduated from Cambridge University with a Master of Arts and held the office of Justice of the Peace for the West Riding, Yorkshire, England.

On May 30, 2023, Princess Eugenie gave birth to her second son, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank at Portland Hospital in London, England.

• Ernest: The name Ernest was a middle name of King George V.
• George: The name George is a tribute to Jack Brooksbank’s father George Brooksbank, who died in 2021 after being ill for some time.

• Ronnie: The name Ronnie is in honor of the father of Sarah, Duchess of York, Major Ronald Ferguson, who died in 2003.

• This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Beatrice of York was born on August 8, 1988, at 8:18 pm at Portland Hospital in London, England. She is the elder of the two daughters of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and his former wife née Sarah Ferguson. Princess Beatrice has a younger sister, Princess Eugenie (born 1990). As male-line grandchildren of a British sovereign, Beatrice and Eugenie have the style Royal Highness and the title Princess and they used the name of the area over which her father holds his dukedom, York, in their title until their marriages.

The infant princess and her parents; Photo Credit – www.parentdish.co.uk

Princess Beatrice was christened on December 20, 1988, in the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace in London, England by John Habgood, Archbishop of York. She was given the names Beatrice (after the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria), Elizabeth (after her paternal grandmother) and Mary (after Queen Mary, her great great grandmother). Her godparents were:

• David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon (her father’s first cousin)
• Peter Palumbo, Baron Palumbo (her maternal grandfather’s friend)
• The Duchess of Roxburghe (the former Lady Jane Grosvenor, later Lady Jane Dawnay)
• The Honourable Mrs. John Greenall (her mother’s friend, the former Gabrielle James)
• Mrs. Henry Cotterell (her mother’s friend, the former Carolyn Beckwith-Smith)

Princess Beatrice’s christening; Photo Credit – entertainment.xin.msn.com

Princess Beatrice has one sibling:

• Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank (born 1990), married Jack Brooksbank, had two sons

Beatrice, on right, with her sister on Eugenie’s first day at Upton House School; Photo Credit – www.gettyimages.com

Princess Beatrice started her schooling in 1991 at Upton House School in Windsor, Berkshire, England. In 1995, Beatrice began attending Coworth Park School in Windlesham, Surrey, England which merged in 2004 with Flexlands School to become Coworth Flexlands School.  From 2000-2007, Beatrice attended St. George’s School in Ascot, Berkshire, England. She completed A-Levels in Drama, History, and Film Studies, and in her final year, she was Head Girl.  In September 2008, Beatrice started a three-year course studying for a Bachelors degree in History and History of Ideas at Goldsmiths College, University of London, England graduating in 2011.

Princess Beatrice with her parents at her graduation from Goldsmiths College; Photo Credit – www.dailymail.co.uk

On her 18th birthday, Beatrice said she wanted to use her position to assist others through charity work. In 2007, she became a global ambassador for Children in Crisis, a charity founded by her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, whose goal is to help educate children and women in some of the poorest countries. In April 2010, Beatrice became the first member of the Royal Family to complete the London Marathon. She ran with friends as part of Team Caterpillar to raise money for several charities including Children in Crisis.

Beatrice, third from the left, with Team Caterpillar at the 2010 London Marathon; Photo Credit – www.zimio.com

In 2010, Princess Beatrice, along with six friends, founded The Big Change Charitable Trust which identifies and supports projects that improve the lives of young people. The Big Change works in partnership with charitable projects throughout the United Kingdom which inspire and encourage young people to be the very best that they can be. In September 2012, Beatrice and her fellow founders climbed Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps in The Big Change’s first fundraising project: The Big Climb.

Beatrice climbing Mont Blanc; Photo Credit – http://thedukeofyork.org

Beatrice is involved with other organizations including:

• York Musical Society (Patron)
• York Theatre Royal (Patron)
• The Sick Kids Friends Foundation (Patron)
• Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice (Patron)
• Broomwood African Education Foundation (Patron)
• The Berkshire Community Foundation (Patron)
• Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre (Patron, Princess Beatrice is dyslexic)
• Teenage Cancer Trust (Ambassador)

In 2009, Princess Beatrice appeared as an extra, portraying a lady-in-waiting, in the film The Young Victoria which focused on the early reign of Queen Victoria, and her marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are Beatrice’s great great great great grandparents.

Princess Beatrice, second from the right, in “The Young Victoria”; Photo Credit – www.thesun.co.uk

Princess Beatrice was in a long-term relationship with Dave Clark, a Virgin Galactic businessman,  from 2007 – 2016. The couple met at a birthday party for Sean Brosnan, the son of actor Pierce Brosnan.

Beatrice attended a fundraising event in March 2019 at the National Portrait Gallery in London, accompanied by Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, a multi-millionaire property tycoon and the son of Alessandro (Alex) Mapelli Mozzi, a former British Olympian in Alpine Skiing.  It is believed that the couple started dating in 2018.  In May 2019, Beatrice and Edoardo attended their first royal family event together, the wedding of Beatrice’s second cousin once removed, Lady Gabriella Windsor.

Engagement Photo of Princess Beatrice of York and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi; Photo Credit – https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily  © Princess Eugenie

On September 26, 2019, Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of  Princess Beatrice to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Beatrice and Edoardo’s wedding, scheduled for May 29, 2020, was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Photo Credit – https://www.instagram.com/p/CC05fTMH_HJ/ Photograph by Benjamin Wheeler

Beatrice and Edoardo were married in a private ceremony at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, on the grounds of Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, on July 17, 2020.

• Unofficial Royalty: Wedding of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Beatrice and Edoardo have one daughter:

• Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi (born 2021)

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex was born on September 15, 1984, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, England. He is the second of the two sons of King Charles III of the United Kingdom and his first wife Lady Diana Spencer. Although he is known as Prince Harry, his full name is Henry Charles Albert David.

Prince Harry has one older brother:

• Prince William, The Prince of Wales (born 1982), married Catherine Middleton, had two sons and one daughter

Prince Harry and his family in 1987; Photo Credit – www.dailymail.co.uk

Prince Harry was christened by Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury, on December 21, 1984, at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. His godparents were:

• Prince Andrew, Duke of York (his paternal uncle)
• Bryan Organ (a portrait painter)
• Gerald Ward (friend of his father)
• Lady Vestey (friend of his father, the former Celia Knight, wife of Samuel Vestey, 3rd Baron Vestey)
• Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones (his father’s first cousin, later Lady Sarah Chatto)
• Mrs. William Bartholomew (friend of his mother, the former Carolyn Pride)

Prince Harry’s Christening; Photo Credit – www.abc.net.au

Like his brother, Prince Harry began his education at Mrs. Mynors’ Nursery School in the Notting Hill section of London. He then joined Prince William at Wetherby School also in the Notting Hill section of London.

Prince Harry on his first day at Wetherby School with his brother and mother; Photo Credit – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Harry followed his brother to Ludgrove School in Wokingham, Berkshire, England, and then in 1998, he joined Prince William at Eton College in Windsor, Berkshire, England. William and Harry’s attending Eton went against what had become the Windsor tradition to attend Gordonstoun School.  Their Spencer grandfather, the 8th Earl Spencer, and uncle, the 9th Earl Spencer, both attended Eton College. While at Eton, Harry was a House Captain of Games and played rugby, cricket, and polo. Harry also received basic military training at Eton, led the Combined Cadet Force at their annual Tattoo, and received the highest rank of Cadet Officer.  Prince Harry passed two A-Level exams and was eligible for a commission in the British Army.

Prince Harry at Eton College in 2003; Photo Credit – www.vanityfair.com

Prince Harry leading the Combined Cadet Force at Eton College in 2003: Photo Credit – www.dw.de

After leaving Eton in 2003, Harry spent part of his gap year in Australia, on a cattle station and participating in the Young England vs Young Australia Polo Test Match. He then traveled to the African country of Lesotho to work at an AIDS orphanage.

Prince Harry herding cattle in Australia; Photo Credit – home.bt.com

Prince Harry working at an AIDS orphanage in Lesotho; Photo Credit – www.healthshares.org

In May of 2005, Harry entered Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where he was known as Officer Cadet Wales. He completed his training in April of 2006 was commissioned as a Cornet (second lieutenant) in the Blues and Royals, a regiment of the Household Cavalry in the British Army.

Queen Elizabeth II smiles at her grandson as she inspects the cadets at Harry’s graduation from Sandhurst; Photo Credit – www.today.com

Harry’s highest rank in the army was Captain and like his brother William, he used Wales as his surname with his military rank. Harry trained to fly Apache helicopters and has served two tours of duty in Afghanistan. In 2014, Harry took up a Staff Officer role in HQ London District as SO3 (Defence Engagement). In this position, he helped to coordinate significant projects and commemorative events involving the British Army in London. Harry ended his career in the army on June 15, 2015.

Captain Harry Wales prepares for a flight; Photo Credit – www.mirror.co.uk

Harry’s experience in Lesotho during his gap year caused him to form a charity, Sentebale, with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, the brother of King Letsie of Lesotho. The goal of Sentebale is “to help vulnerable children, the forgotten victims of poverty and Lesotho’s HIV/AIDS epidemic.”

Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry join some children in a kneeling dance in Lesotho; Photo Credit – www.thetimes.co.uk

In 2014, Prince Harry launched the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style sporting event for injured servicemen and women. Invictus is Latin for “Unconquered, Undefeated.” The first Invictus Games were held on September 10-14, 2014 at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, England.

Prince Harry makes a speech at the launch of the Invictus Games; Credit – http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk

On November 8, 2016, Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince Harry was in a relationship with American actress Meghan Markle and released a statement from the prince asking for the “abuse and harassment” of Markle and her family to end.

The engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was announced on November 27, 2017.  The couple was married on May 19, 2018, at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle where many royal weddings have been held.  On the morning of the wedding, The Queen created Harry Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel.

• Unofficial Royalty: Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Lilibet being held by her mother with her father and brother Archie, from the 2021 Christmas card of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex; Credit – Alexi Lubomirski/The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Harry and Meghan have two children:

• Prince Archie of Sussex (born May 6, 2019, at Portland Hospital in London, England)
• Princess Lilibet of Sussex, nicknamed Lili (born June 4, 2021 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California)

Their daughter is named after her paternal great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and her paternal grandmother Diana, Princess of Wales. “Lilibet” is Queen Elizabeth II’s family nickname, which originated from Elizabeth’s pronunciation of her name when she was young.  As the children of a duke, Archie and Lilibet were entitled to the courtesy titles Earl of Dumbarton and Lady Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. However, their parents declined the use. With the accession of the children’s grandfather as King Charles III, Archie and Lilibet are male-line grandchildren of the monarch and are entitled to be styled His/Her Royal Highness Prince/Princess.

• Unofficial Royalty: Are the children of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex entitled to be HRH Prince/Princess?

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced on January 8, 2020, that they will step back as senior royals and divide time between the United Kingdom and North America. However, since that time the Duke and Duchess have made a home in California in the United States.

Below is their statement:

“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.”

It was announced on January 18, 2020, from Buckingham Palace that The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will no longer use their HRH titles or receive any public funds for royal duties, as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family. The couple has also made known their intentions to repay the funds used from the Sovereign Grant for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, their home in Windsor Home Park. The statement also said that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would balance their time between the United Kingdom and North America and would continue to honor their duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and their patronages.

However, a statement was released on February 19, 2021, stating that as part of the review planned a year earlier when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex first stepped away from royal duties, it has been decided that they will no longer have any of their royal patronages or honorary military roles.

Buckingham Palace made the following statement:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family.  Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service. The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family. While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family.

In April 2024, Prince Harry formally confirmed he is now a resident of the United States. Paperwork was filed by Travalyst Ltd., a company at least 75% owned by Harry, filed paperwork informing British authorities that he has moved and is now “usually resident” in the United States.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2014

2023

Prince George Alexander Louis of Wales is the first child of Prince William, The Prince of Wales and the former Catherine Middleton. He was born at 4:24 pm on July 22, 2013, at the Lindo Wing, St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London. He is second in line to the British throne, behind his father, The Prince of Wales.

Prince George has two younger siblings:

• Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Wales (born May 2, 2015)
• Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Wales (born April 23, 2018)

photo: Daily Mail/PA

His birth was announced at 8:29 pm via a press release from Clarence House. And following tradition, a formal written announcement was placed on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.

photo: ABC News

The following afternoon, the young Prince made his first public appearance. After visits from the grandparents, William and Catherine emerged from the doors of the Lindo Wing with their son, to introduce him to the crowds of media and admirers who were gathered. Soon after, they drove off to their home at Kensington Palace. On July 24th, the prince’s names were announced – George Alexander Louis.

photo: Telegraph/John Stillwell/PA

Prince George’s christening took place on October 23, 2013, in the Chapel Royal at St James’ Palace. Officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the christening was private, with just immediate family in attendance. His godparents were:

• Oliver Baker (a schoolmate of his parents at The University of St Andrews)
• Emilia d’Erlanger Jardine-Paterson (a schoolmate of his mother at Marlborough College)
• Hugh Grosvenor, Earl Grosvenor (friend of his father)
• Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton (private secretary to his parents)
• Julia Samuel (a close friend of his late grandmother Diana, Princess of Wales)
• William van Cutsem (a friend of his father)
• Zara Phillips Tindall (paternal first cousin of his father)

photo: Jason Bell/Camera Press

Following the christening, a reception was held at Clarence House where formal photographs were taken. This would be the first time since 1894 that four direct generations of sovereigns were photographed together.

photo: Parade-Conde Nast

Prince George’s first big public appearance came when he joined his parents on a three-week trip to New Zealand and Australia in April 2014. At an event held at Government House, in Wellington New Zealand, the young prince and his parents enjoyed a play date with other children and their parents.

January 6, 2016 was Prince George’s first day of school.  He attended the Westacre Montessori Nursery School in the village of East Walton in Norfolk near his home Amner Hall.  He was dropped off at school by his parents and spent a few hours there.  In September 2017, Prince George began attending Thomas’s Battersea School on Battersea High Street in London under the name George Cambridge.

Prince George meets President Obama; Credit – Wikipedia

On April 22, 2016, Prince George met Barack Obama, President of the United States at Kensington Palace. The encounter later prompted Obama to joke that “Prince George showed up to our meeting in his bathrobe… a clear breach of protocol.”

Prince George and Princess Charlotte accompanied their parents on a tour of Canada in September 2016.

On May 20, 2017, Prince George was a page at the wedding of his aunt Pippa Middleton and James Matthews.

In 2018, Prince George was a page boy in two royal weddings – the wedding of his uncle Prince Harry to Meghan Markle and the wedding of his first cousin once removed Princess Eugenie of York to Jack Brooksbank.

George and his siblings ride in the Trooping the Colour carriage procession for the first time in 2022; Credit – By John Pannell from Watford, UK – Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022-0695, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=118639761

George occasionally accompanies his parents on royal tours and engagements. On June 2, 2022, during his great-grandmother’s Platinum Jubilee celebration weekend, George and his siblings made their debut in the Trooping the Colour carriage procession. All three children then joined their parents, Queen Elizabeth II, and other working royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

William and Catherine with their children on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022

In the summer of 2022, George and his family moved to Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroom house on the grounds of Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England. The move was made to give George and his siblings a more normal family life. In the fall of 2022, George and his siblings began attending Lambrook School, a prestigious fee-paying school in Winkfield, near Windsor. The school is described on its website as a “leading coeducational Prep School for 615 boys and girls aged 3 and 13, set in 52 acres of beautiful Berkshire countryside.” Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis will not be the first royals who attended Lambrook School. Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein and his brother Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holstein, grandsons of Queen Victoria and sons of Princess Helena and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, also attended Lambrook School.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Updated 9/9/2022