Ever since Prince Harry was a toddler, there's been an impish side to his character. And as he matured into a young man determined, he declared, to continue his mother's charitable works, the fun-loving, devil-may-care side to his personality has landed him in not a few, highly public scrapes.



His mother, Princess Diana, was determined her sons should enjoy a "normal" lifestyle, and the three were frequently spotted at amusement parks, popping into McDonalds, and going to the cinema. Tragically, at the tender age of 12, Harry found himself deprived of a mother who had lived her life around her sons; like his brother William, he showed great bravery in the face of devastating loss.

In the months immediately following his mother's death, Harry shied away from public life, but in October 1997 he accompanied his father on an eight-day tour of South Africa. Father and son attended a charity concert given by the Spice Girls and Harry met Nelson Mandela, the then president of South Africa.

In September 1998, a year after their mother's death, the Princes jointly issued a statement asking both press and public to let Diana rest in peace, and to allow them to carry on with their lives away from the glare of public scrutiny.

Harry, although thought to be not as academically gifted as his brother William, earned a place at Eton in 1998 and became instantly popular with his fellow students. He soon settled into the school's routine, finding a variety of outlets for his academic, sporting and creative talents. A keen sportsman who loves abseiling, football and skiing, he has a reputation for being "one of the lads", unlike his more serious brother, to whom he is very close.

Following his graduation from Eton, the teenager embarked upon an initial gap year, some of which was spent as a ranch hand on an Australian cattle station. This was then extended for a further 12 months after Prince Charles voiced his desire that Harry should be closer in age to his fellow classmates - many of whom will be graduates - when he begins the next phase of his education at Sandhurst Military Academy.