Prince William and Prince Harry are the two senior male-line grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II and sons of Diana, Princess of Wales. William, born in 1982, is second in line to the throne and serves as a working royal focused on emergency services, mental health, and conservation. Harry, born in 1984, is sixth in line and has stepped back from senior duties while advocating for veterans’ welfare, racial equity, and mental health. This guide explains their roles, titles, responsibilities, public work, and the changing dynamics of their relationship over time.
Birth, Names, and Place in Line of Succession
William was born on 21 June 1982, firstborn son of Charles and Diana. Harry followed on 31 August 1984 as their second son. Both were born when the Succession to the Crown Act 1973 retained male-preference primogeniture; subsequent reforms made birth order, not gender, the decisive factor. William is the elder and the second in line; Harry is the younger and sixth as of 2024, after William, his children, and his brother.
Official Titles and Military Roles
William holds the titles Duke of Cambridge and Earl of Strathearn, reflecting his role as a senior working royal. Harry was styled Duke of Sussex until his stepping back. Both have military service records: William trained at Sandhurst and served with Army Air Corps and the Royal Air Force; Harry attended Sandhurst and served with the Blues and Royals and later with Army Air Corps in Afghanistan. Their commissions have ended, but they retain honorary ranks and affiliations.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | William: 21 June 1982; Harry: 31 August 1984 | Biographical records |
| Current Place in Line | William: 2nd; Harry: 6th (as of 2024) | Official succession registry |
| Key Title | William: Duke of Cambridge; Harry: Duke of Sussex (former) | Court circulars |
| Military Training | Sandhurst for both; Army Air Corps for William; Blues and Royals for Harry | Royal Household biographies |
| Primary Philanthropic Focus | William: emergency services, mental health, conservation; Harry: veterans, mental health, racial equity | Charity patronages and foundation reports |
Charitable Work and Foundations
William’s main charitable focus areas are supporting emergency responders, children’s mental health, and protecting ecosystems. He is Patron of the Emergency Services Interoperability Programme and has played a role in establishing The King’s Foundation. Harry and Meghan founded the Archewell Foundation, which emphasizes crisis response, children’s well-being, and community support. Both support mental health initiatives, though often through different organizations and approaches.
William’s Key Patronages
- Emergency services and first responders
- Children’s mental health (Place2Be, Heads Together)
- Conservation and biodiversity (United for Wildlife)
Harry and Meghan’s Key Areas
- Veterans’ welfare (Invictus Games Foundation)
- Mental health awareness
- Racial equity and social justice
Public Roles and Stepping Back
For much of their careers, both carried out royal duties across the Commonwealth, supported the Armed Forces community, and represented the monarchy at major events. In early 2020, Harry and Meghan announced they would step back as senior working royals, citing intense media scrutiny and a desire for financial independence. This decision reshaped their public roles, moving toward private-sector work, media ventures, and philanthropy while reducing official engagements.
Relationship Dynamics and Family Tensions
The brothers’ relationship has evolved amid public scrutiny and family changes. Personal tensions surfaced around 2019, coinciding with Harry’s relationship with Meghan Markle and decisions to relocate abroad. Public disagreements over media treatment and institutional reforms have been documented in interviews and memoirs. Despite reported strains, both have expressed love for each other, and moments of unity—such as joint tributes to their mother—are frequently noted in the press. The long-term health of fraternal ties remains a subject of ongoing public interest.
Long-Term Legacies and Cultural Influence
William is positioned as the stabilising heir to the throne, emphasizing continuity, service, and institutional reform. Harry has cultivated a modern, globally engaged identity through media deals, memoir publishing, and advocacy, often challenging traditional royal norms. Their contrasting approaches highlight evolving expectations of the monarchy in the 21st century, balancing duty, privacy, and public accountability.