Prince Harry, who served in the British Army for ten years, has a long list of accomplishments under his belt, but you might be surprised to learn that the royal once had dreams of working in a fondue hut.
The father of two was open about his goals after leaving Eton in his frank memoir, Spare. The Duke of Sussex wrote: “For several years I’d talked in all seriousness about working at the ski resort in Lech am Arlberg, where Mummy used to take us.” in an essay about his career dilemma.
I wanted to work at the fondue hut in the middle of town because Mummy loved it, he continued. Your life might be changed by that fondue. (I was irrationally angry.) But after I informed Pa that I had abandoned the fondue fantasy, he sighed in relief.
Harry claims that during their one-on-one conversation about Harry’s desire to become a ski instructor, King Charles was especially stern.
“I became interested in the idea of becoming a ski instructor… Harry said, implying his father’s disapproval, “Pa tensed again. Out of the question. OK. Continually pausing. Charles allegedly replied: “No, darling boy. How about safari guide.”
Prince William and Prince Harry, royal brothers, broke with family tradition by enrolling at Windsor’s Eton School. The Prince of Wales earned 12 GCSEs and three A-Levels in biology (C), art history (A), and geography (all with As).
Prince Harry, on the other hand, earned two A-Levels—a B in art and a D in geography—in addition to 11 GCSEs. The British royal spent a year traveling after graduating from Eton in 2003 before enlisting in the army, where he served as a Captain and completed two tours in Afghanistan.
Despite later admitting that he “never once regretted [his] decision to skip university,” Harry has talked about the value of education.
He said, “I’m incredibly grateful for the education I was fortunate enough to have,” in a statement to Malala Yousafzai. I doubt I was as appreciative at the time, but now that I think about it, I’m incredibly fortunate to have had the chance.
Prince Harry is especially appreciative of his time in the army, despite going on to enjoy a very varied career.
Harry said during his private interview with Anderson Cooper on CBS’ 60 Minutes: “It took me out of the UK press’s spotlight. For the first time in my life, I was able to put my attention on a goal greater than myself, to dress in the same uniform as everyone else, and to feel normal.
“I succeeded in overcoming some of my biggest obstacles. I made a strong case for joining the military. I was a 20-year-old man who was in shock, the 38-year-old continued.
Harry has collaborated with his wife Meghan Markle on a number of projects outside of his military career. The Sussexes signed a contract with Netflix in 2020; its exact value is unknown, but it is estimated to be around $100 million.
They released their Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan in December 2022, and just last week, Prince Harry shared a sneak peek of his upcoming Netflix documentary series about the Invictus Games. And since the movie is scheduled for release on August 30, royal fans won’t have to wait too long.