Forty photos to mark Harry’s milestone 40th birthday

The duke, who celebrates his birthday on Sunday, is pictured through the ages from newborn prince to married father of two living in the US.

The Duke of Sussex reaches his milestone 40th birthday on Sunday.

In a statement to the BBC, Harry said he was “excited” about reaching the milestone, adding: “Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world.”

Forty photos – one for every year of Harry’s life – have been compiled to mark the duke entering his fifth decade.

Diana holds newborn Prince Harry, wrapped in a shawl, in her arms as she leaves hospital after his birth in 1984 — The Princess of Wales leaving the hospital with newborn Prince Harry in 1984 (PA)

Harry, who is said to be celebrating his birthday with Meghan and his children in California and then heading on a getaway with friends, was photographed as a mischievous three-year-old in 1987.

A three-year-old Prince Harry sticks out his tongue at photographers as he goes past in a car on his way to nursery — A three-year-old Prince Harry sticks out his tongue at photographers (PA)

In 1991, the six-year-old prince, with neatly combed hair and dressed in suit and tie, carried a large briefcase down the steps of a plane at Aberdeen airport, ahead of a summer break at Balmoral.

Harry, aged six, dressed in a suit and tie carries a briefcase down the down the steps of a plane in Scotland — Harry, aged six, carries a briefcase down the down the steps of a plane in Scotland (Chris Bacon/PA)

He posed for a photo with the singers, while Victoria Beckham, known as Posh Spice, held his hand.

Harry with Spice Girls Mel Brown, Emma Bunton and the now-Victoria Beckham when the young prince met singers while attending their concert in Johannesburg, South Africa — Harry, 13, with Spice Girls Mel Brown, Emma Bunton and the now-Victoria Beckham after attending their concert in Johannesburg, South Africa (John Stillwell/PA)

The prince was surrounded by posters – some of bikini-clad women – an England flag and a Mario Testino portrait of his late mother.

Harry, 18, in his room at Eton College, ahead of completing his A-Levels in 2003 (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

A grieving 12-year-old Harry walked through the streets of London behind Diana’s coffin with his father Charles, his grandfather, the late Duke of Edinburgh, brother Prince William and uncle Earl Spencer after the princess’s death in a Paris car crash in 1997.

The then-Prince of Wales, Prince William, 12-year-old Prince Harry, Earl Spencer and the Duke of Edinburgh walking behind the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales — The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William, Earl Spencer, 12-year-old Prince Harry and the Prince of Wales walking behind the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales (Adam Butler/PA)

In 1993, the eight-year-old played at being a soldier, dressed up in a khaki green uniform and navy beret, as he ran round a corner during a visit to the Light Dragoons in Hanover, Germany.

Eight-year-old Harry running wearing a mini Army uniform and shown in 2012 running as he scrambles to his Apache in Afghanistan — Eight-year-old Harry as a mini soldier in 1993 and in 2012 serving on the frontline in Afghanistan (Martin Keene & John Stillwell/PA)

Harry was photographed aged 19 on a trip to Lesotho in southern Africa, holding hands with four-year-old orphan Mutsu Potsane – two years before founding the charity Sentebale.

Harry leading young orphan Mutsu Potsane, four, by the hand to plant a peach tree together at the Mants'ase Children's Home near Mohale's Hoek — Harry leading young orphan Mutsu Potsane, four, by the hand to plant a peach tree together at the Mants’ase Children’s Home near Mohale’s Hoek (John Stillwell/PA)

He carried out a charm offensive, dancing with the locals and running with Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt.

Harry dances with a woman during a visit to the Rise Life charity project, in Jamaica, as part of a Diamond Jubilee tour where he is representing his grandmother — Harry dances with a woman during a visit to the Rise Life charity project, in Jamaica, as part of a Diamond Jubilee tour where he represented his grandmother (John Stillwell/PA)

He had just staged his first Invictus Games in 2014 to much praise, with his father and brother the now-Prince of Wales at his side in support, and his stepmother the then-Duchess of Cornwall also turning out for the inaugural event.

Harry, 29, with the wheelchair basketball teams in Queen Elizabeth Park when he announced his new Invictus Games in 2014 (John Stillwell/PA)

In 1989, five-year-old Harry, in his new school blazer, cap and shorts, gazed up at his seven-year-old big brother on his first day at Wetherby pre-prep in 1989 as his mother Diana looked proudly on.

Harry, in school uniform, looks up at William on his first day at school as Diana looks proudly on — Harry with William on his first day at school (Ron Bell/PA)

The trio were promoting their Heads Together mental health campaign in east London.

The then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry taking part in a race at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to promote their mental health campaign Heads Together in 2017 — The then-Cambridges and Prince Harry taking part in a race at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2017 (Alastair Grant/PA)

They bantered while dealing with a rock python draped over their shoulders in the 2010 tour.

Harry, 25, and William, 27, pose with a rock python during a visit to the Mokolodi Nature Reserve in Gaborone, Botswana (Anthony Devlin/PA)

In 2022, William, Kate, Harry, then 37, and the Duchess of Sussex were pictured walking to meet members of the public at Windsor following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Princess of Wales, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex walk to meet members of the public at Windsor Castle following the death of Queen Elizabeth II — Kate, William, and Harry, then aged 37, and Meghan walk to meet members of the public at Windsor Castle following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 (Kirsty O’Connor/PA)

The fallout is said to have begun before Harry’s 2018 wedding to American former actress Meghan, with the duke accusing William of being snobbish to his bride.

Groom Harry, 33 holds bride Meghan's hand as they leave the flower adorned St George's Chapel on their wedding day — Harry, 33, on his wedding day with Meghan (Jane Barlow/PA)

The duke, 35, is pictured hand in hand with Meghan in March of that year as they made their way into Westminster Abbey for their last official public royal engagement as working royals.

Harry is captured glancing down, while the duchess, in a vibrant green cape dress and hat, looks directly towards the cameras ahead of the Commonwealth Day service.

Harry, 35, arriving with Meghan on their last official public royal engagement before stepping down from the working monarchy in 2020 (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Since Harry moved to the US, the monarchy has witnessed the death of Elizabeth II, the start of Charles III’s reign and Camilla becoming Queen, with the King’s second year as sovereign rocked by his cancer diagnosis as well as that of his daughter-in-law, Kate.

The duke, then 38, at the Rolls Buildings in central London for the phone hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) — The duke, then 38, at the Rolls Buildings in central London in 2023 for the phone hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) (Jeff Moore/PA)

The duke’s legal battle with the Home Office over his security while in the UK is meanwhile said to have frustrated the King.

Harry and Meghan wearing sunglasses and holding hands in the sunshine on a polo field in Florida — The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in April during the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Florida in 2024 (Yaroslav Sabitov/PA)

The duke’s past year has seen the Sussexes undertake quasi-royal tours to Colombia and Nigeria, and Meghan start a new business venture with the soft launch of her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard when she sent limited edition strawberry jam to her friends.