Gap Year
Gap Year
After leaving Eton, Prince Harry chose to take a gap year to experience a range of different professions, to travel, and to prepare for and pass the rigorous entry test for the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
In September 2003, Prince Harry visited Australia for two months. In November 2003, Prince Harry played in the Young England versus Young Australia Polo Test Match, near Sydney, and also worked as a jackeroo in Tooloombilla, Queensland. While he was in Australia, Harry also followed the successful World Cup campaign of the England Rugby team.
In Spring 2004 Prince Harry spent time working with various charities and organisations in Lesotho in Southern Africa and volunteered in a home for Aids orphans there. While he was there, Prince Harry made an ITN documentary to help highlight the plight of the adults and children that have been affected by the disease.
Titled “The Forgotten Kingdom – Prince Harry in Lesotho” it was filmed during Harry’s eight week visit in early 2004 and covers some of the projects with which Harry was involved, such as the Mants’ase Orphanage. With Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, Prince Harry eventually founded a charity called ‘Sentebale: The Princes’ Fund for Lesotho’ to work for the orphans and disadvantaged children of Lesotho.
Upon his return from Africa in July 2004, Prince Harry began preparing for the Regular Commissions Board for entry into The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, which he passed in September 2004.
At this time, Prince Harry also trained with the Rugby Football Union to become an Assistant Rugby Development Officer (RDO) for young people. On completion of his training course in September, Prince Harry worked with other RDOs to provide coaching to clubs, schools and communities throughout England. The RDOs’ role is to promote the game in England, develop and improve playing and coaching standards and increase participation in the game at all youth levels.
In the Summer of 2004, Prince Harry spent time on a Duchy of Cornwall farm to learn about land management, and he also spent six weeks working on a polo farm overseas to develop his polo skills and learn how a polo farm operates.
In January 2005, after the devastating tsunami that hit parts of Asia on Boxing Day 2004, Prince Harry and Prince William volunteered at a British Red Cross tsunami aid centre packaging and sending aid to survivors.
Prince Harry began his army cadet training course at Sandhurst on 8th May 2005.