Announcement of Leaving Armed Forces

On 17/03/2015, Kensington Palace officially announced that Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, would leave the British Armed Forces in June 2015, bringing his decade-long military career to a close. At the time, he was serving under the name Captain Harry Wales and had recently transitioned into roles focused on personnel recovery within the Army. In a statement released alongside the announcement, Prince Harry described the decision as a “really tough” one, reflecting on his 10 years of service. His military career began in 2005 when he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and it included two operational tours in Afghanistan, first in 2007 to 2008 and later in 2012 to 2013 as an Apache helicopter pilot. The announcement came during a period when Prince Harry was completing his final assignments, including a secondment with the Australian Defence Force in April and May 2015. His departure from the Armed Forces was formally completed on 19/06/2015, when he resigned his Short Service Commission. The decision marked a transition from full-time military duties to an increased focus on charitable work and public service, including initiatives supporting veterans and injured service personnel. Why This Moment Matters: The announcement set a clear timeline for the end of Prince Harry’s military career, linking his service record with his transition toward veteran-focused initiatives and public duties.