Prince Harry at 40: ‘Damaged by divorce, troubled by exile, but born to be a dad’, says royal expert

Prince Harry, once known as the nation’s cheeky chap with a mischievous glint in his eye, has had quite the transformation over recent years. Now, as he celebrates his 40th birthday, experts say becoming a father has been the making of the Duke. The Duke of Sussex has embraced fatherhood with his two little royals five year old Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, aged three. A top royal commentator has noted Harry’s natural flair for being a dad.

Speaking to OK! former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond highlighted Harry’s paternal instincts: “There’s something about Harry that makes you think he was born to be a dad.” She attributed it to “his natural playfulness” or simply his own desire for a family.

Indeed, Harry himself has never hidden his intent to be a parent. “I’ve longed for kids since I was very, very young,” he expressed in 2012. He admitted to waiting for “the right person and someone who’s willing to take on the job.” Jennie said: “There’s something about Harry that makes you think he was born to be a dad. Perhaps it’s his natural playfulness, of which we still get glimpses, or, rather more obviously, the fact that he told the world that he couldn’t wait to start a family of his own.”

In 2016, Prince Harry’s life took a romantic turn when he met and swiftly fell for Meghan Markle, leading to their marriage two years later. The couple’s dream of parenthood came true with the birth of Archie Harrison in 2019, followed by the arrival of Lilibet Diana in 2021. As they grow up in sunny California, Harry is poised to pass on valuable life lessons to his children amidst their idyllic lifestyle.

“Harry has always been quite sporty, and very competitive,” Jennie comments. “I bet he gets the kids involved in all sorts of games and makes it incredibly fun, as well as teaching them skills like surfing or football. The warm weather and outdoor lifestyle in Montecito must make bringing up children a joy, so much easier to get them away from screens and TV, which Harry and Meghan clearly both feel very strongly about.”

Despite his commitments to charity and his role as an international advocate for mental health and environmental issues, Jennie believes Harry is deeply engaged in fatherhood. “I think he is relishing his role as a parent and playing the fullest part he can in the lives of his two tots,” she asserts. “He’s lucky enough to be able to share most of their lives so I’m sure Harry is a devoted dad and no stranger to nappy changing or school runs. I think he finds the security and anchor in his little family that was sadly missing in his own broken childhood home.”