Yes, Prince Harry is great with kids, an attentive husband to Meghan Markle, and a shining ambassador for the royal family, but one of the most important things to him is the time he spent in the Armed Forces. His love of all things military-related started surprisingly young, and with his passion project the Invictus Games, it looks set to continue throughout his life, so what better way to celebrate than to take a look at all the most significant times Harry has worn a military uniform?
Even at the age of 2, Harry was enraptured with all things military-related, and he and brother William both owned miniature army uniforms. During a photocall at his father's country home Highgrove, adventure-loving Harry also displayed an injury to his nose, which he'd sustained from launching himself off the kitchen table.
Knowing how passionate her son was about the military, Princess Diana took Harry with her on a trip to the Light Dragoons in Germany, where he was presented with a uniform of his own and allowed to take part in a simulated battle.
Playtime was over when Harry was at Eton College, and he joined the Combined Cadet Force — a Ministry of Defence-sponsored youth organization that operates through a number of UK schools.
Harry had his sights set on a military career, and so he trained to become an army captain at Sandhurst. He graduated in 2006, watched by his grandmother the queen, father Prince Charles, and brother Prince William.
No sooner had Harry finished celebrating his Sandhurst graduation than he was studying to be a leader at Bovington Camp, sleeping in army barracks and living the life he'd always dreamed of.
As Harry took on more responsibilities as a working royal, he favored military engagements, showing which endeavors would be important to him for the rest of his life.
While his brother William's future as king has always been more clearly defined, Harry's role was less rigid, however, his aim was always to fight for his country on the front line, and at the end of 2007, he was secretly posted to Afghanistan, where he was a Forward Air Controller. His duties involved surveillance and calling in air strikes, as well as patrolling the ghost town of Garmsir.
Although there was a media blackout surrounding Harry's posting, a photographer was permitted to capture some historic images of the prince at work, rest, and play while he was in Afghanistan — creating a realistic portrait of what life was like for the thousands of men and women in the armed forces who served there.
During some downtime, Harry showed off his sporting prowess with a game of rugby.
The petrol-head prince was thrilled to discover an old abandoned motorbike and even looked into bringing it back to the UK with him.
When Harry's cover was blown and he was withdrawn from Afghanistan, he spoke of his devastation, but he later added that he was leveled by his companion on the flight from Kabul to the UK — a soldier who had lost his leg.
Three months after his time in Afghanistan, Harry received a service medal, which he now wears for all ceremonial events that require him to wear his military uniform.
William and Harry both trained to be helicopter pilots at the same time, and they shared a little cottage — living together for the first time since William went away to boarding school at the age of 8.
In a sign that Harry was taking on more responsibility, at the age of 25, he joined other family members including the queen and Prince Philip when he laid a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. Until Prince Philip's retirement, Harry and his grandfather would often undertake a yearly engagement around the time of Remembrance Sunday together.
Army fatigues, Army Air Corps beret, and a Help For Heroes wristband: there was no denying where Harry's heart lay when he undertook a military engagement in 2010.
In the year that Harry moved into Kensington Palace, he paid tribute to retired veterans at a local engagement in nearby Chelsea.
It was Harry's first tour on behalf of his grandmother, and not only did we see a more statesmanlike side to the prince but a new look for him too. Because he was touring in the tropics, he wore his tropical dress of his regiment the Blues and Royals on an engagement in the Bahamas.
Harry proved he was a crack shot during a live fire exercise in Jamaica.
In 2012, Harry served in Afghanistan for four months, this time in his capacity as a helicopter pilot.
Another key military moment for Harry was his attendance at the Warrior Games during his tour of North America. Harry was so impressed and inspired that it drove him to set up the Invictus Games just one year later.
By 2013, Harry was striking out in his own, representing his family overseas during his trip to Australia.
It took just 12 months to turn a germ of an idea into reality, and proud Harry was on hand in Spring 2014 to launch the very first Invictus Games.
Harry's first trip to Estonia saw him visiting troops participating in Spring Storm NATO military exercises.
Commemorating the centenary of the First World War was an important engagement for the prince.
It was a moving trip back to Afghanistan for Harry in 2014 when he flew back for a Remembrance Service to honor those who had lost their lives in the conflict.
Harry now frequently inspects troops on behalf of the queen.
It's an important staple of the royal calendar, and so we can expect to see Harry on the Buckingham Palace balcony at Trooping the Colour for many years to come.
Harry and William are an invaluable support to each other, and their shared military background has brought them even closer together.
Armistice Day commemorates the signing of the armistice in World War I between the Allied Forces and Germany. Because it happened at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, every year in Britain there is a two-minute silence at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 to honor all those who have been killed in service while fighting for their country. Naturally, it was a key engagement for Harry.
Harry opened the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in 2016.
As his grandfather Prince Philip has retired, Harry, William, and Kate will be taking on more duties, and in 2017, Harry represented his grandmother at an RAF base.
In honor of Queen Elizabeth II's 91st birthday, Harry joined the rest of the royal family for the annual Trooping the Colour parade.
The royal looked so handsome in his uniform when he tied the knot with Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19.
Harry was all smiles as he was joined by his wife at their first Trooping the Colour parade together.
Harry, Meghan, Will, and Kate all color-coordinated their outfits to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force in London.
The Duke of Sussex channeled his inner Prince Charming during his tour of Fiji in 2018.
The royal stepped out at Westminster Abbey to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.
Harry visited Norway in February 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Exercise Clockwork, an elite training exercise that teaches military personnel how to operate, fight, and survive in extreme cold weather.