Perhaps like his mother, Harry is the people’s Prince.
The fourth-in-line to the throne shunned a lavish thirtieth and instead opted for a beer with a former army captain who competed in his Invictus Games.
“On the birthday side of things, I’ll be chuffed to bits when I’m having a beer with Dave Henson, captain of the GB team – we turn 30 at exactly the same time, on Sunday night,” Harry said over the weekend.
“We’re really looking forward to being 30, both feeling quite old about it.”
Harry’s birthday buddy David Henson, who served in the Royal Engineers from Southampton and lost his legs in an explosion in Afghanistan in 2011, overcame adversity to win gold in the 200 metres athletics event.
The athlete was keen to join the Prince to ring in his milestone birthday.
“He said he would buy me a beer and I’m pretty thirsty now,” Henson told reporters.
“We’ll see what happens later on. It’s a bit fluid.”
The chivalrous Prince reportedly cancelled his 30th birthday dinner out of respect for his sister-in-law the Duchess of Cambridge who has been suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum – a condition which causes severe dehydration as a result of extreme morning sickness.
Harry reportedly told the selected guests that the celebration would be ‘inappropriate’ without Kate in attendance.
Despite the cancelled plans the Prince has been busy with his inaugural Invictus Games, which has seen more than 400 wounded military personnel from 13 nations compete in various Paralympic-style sporting events.
The games, of which Prince Harry is president, celebrated its closing ceremony on Sunday night in front of a sell-out crowd of 26,000.
The proud royal told the crowd the tournament had shown “the very best of the human spirit”.
“These games have been about seeing guys sprinting for the finish line and then turning round to clap the last man in,” said Harry.
In honour of the Prince’s birthday, take a trip down memory lane and see 30 memorable moments of the Prince caught on camera.
Harry drinking buddy David Henson of Great Britain celebrates with the Prince after winning the gold medal in the 200m Men Ambulant IT2 final during day 1 of the Invictus Games.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana leaving hospital with the newly born Harry in 1985.
Prince William and Prince Harry in their playroom in London’s Kensington Palace in 1985.
Harry looks adoringly at his older brother on his first day of school in 1989.
The brothers cuddle up to their mother Princess Diana on holidays in Spain in 1987.
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Prince Harry faces the cameras whilst on holiday in Majorca, Spain in August 1988.
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Diana, Princess Of Wales, Sitting On The Steps Of The Marivent Palace With Her Son, Prince Harry.
Prince Harry Playing On A Fire Engine At St. Paul’s in 1990.
Harry on a skiing holiday in Lech, Austria, in 1994.
Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William, Prince Charles at Prince William’s first day at Eton in 1995.
Prince Harry visits South Africa in 1997.
Prince Harry holds up a Hammers jersey at West Ham United’s Upton Park ground, in east London, on September 12, 2002.
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Prince Harry holds 3-year-old Eufrafina in 2007.
Harry at a polo day at Cirencester Park Polo Club in 2006.
Harry with Kanye West and P Diddy after the Concert for Diana in 2007.
Prince Harry plays a game highlighting AIDS/HIV awareness on July 8, 2008 in Buthe Buthe, Lesotho.
The princes mess around with a snake during their visit to Africa in 2010.
Best man Prince Harry and Maid of Honour Pippa Middleton on the balcony at Buckingham Palace after the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton on April 29, 2011. There was speculation that the two may become an item.
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Prince Harry gives the thumbs up upon his arrival at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan in 2012.
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Prince Harry walking out of a tent at the British controlled flight-line at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.
Harry visited Sydney in 2013 to celebrate 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy fleet first entered the waterway.
Handsome Harry won over a brand new legion of admirers during his October 2013 visit.
The charming prince and former Governor-General Quentin Bryce look out onto Sydney Harbour onboard the HMAS Leeuwin.
Harry still remains as one of the world’s most eligible bachelors.
Harry with Usain Bolt.
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Prince Harry and Ivan Castro touch the pole as they and their fellow adventurers reach the South Pole for Walking with the Wounded.
Prince Harry blows a horn which was a present given to him during a visit to a kindergarten in Chile.
Harry holds young Matias Gonzalez as he visits the Sagrada Familia kindergarten during this year’s visit to Chile.
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Prince Harry with his grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, during Trooping the Colour at The Royal Horseguards on June 14, 2014.
Prince Harry addresses the crowd and thanks the tournament’s brave competitors at the first Invictus Games.
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