Secondment to Australian Defence Force

Between April and May 2015, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, serving as Captain Harry Wales, undertook a four-week secondment with the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The attachment formed part of his final phase of active military service before he resigned his Short Service Commission in the British Army on 19/06/2015. During the secondment, Prince Harry was embedded with units across Australia, gaining experience with different aspects of military training and operations. His activities included working with the Australian Army’s 2nd Commando Regiment in Sydney, participating in exercises with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) in Western Australia, and undertaking training with the Northern Territory’s Darwin-based units. The placement provided exposure to a range of operational environments and military disciplines. The secondment was arranged as part of ongoing defence cooperation between the United Kingdom and Australia, allowing for shared training and professional exchange. It also marked a continuation of Prince Harry’s active involvement in military duties following his previous operational tours in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter pilot. The assignment concluded shortly before his departure from the Army, bringing to a close a decade-long military career that began in 2005. His time with the Australian Defence Force represented his final official military engagement before transitioning to full-time public and charitable work. Why This Moment Matters: The secondment provided an international conclusion to Prince Harry’s military career, linking his service with allied forces before his retirement from active duty.