Although Prince Harry has an array of notable career accomplishments attributed in part to his ten-year service in the British Army, it might come as a surprise to discover that the royal figure once held aspirations of working at a fondue hut…
In his revealing autobiography titled “Spare,” the father of two openly discussed his future ambitions after attending Eton. Providing insight into his vocational dilemmas, the Duke of Sussex wrote: “For a number of years, I earnestly discussed the idea of working at the ski resort in Lech am Arlberg, a place my mother used to take us to.”
He elaborated: “More specifically, I had a desire to be employed at the fondue hut located in the heart of the town, a spot my mother cherished. That fondue had the potential to be transformative. (Yes, I truly held that unconventional aspiration.) However, I later informed my father that I had abandoned the fondue-related daydream, which seemed to bring him a sigh of relief.”
According to Harry, his father, King Charles, was especially firm when they engaged in a one-on-one conversation concerning Harry’s aspiration to work as a ski instructor.
“I entertained thoughts of pursuing a career as a ski instructor… At that point, Pa became tense once more,” Harry recounted, alluding to his father’s lack of approval. He continued, implying his father’s response: “That’s not a feasible option. Alright. There was a significant pause. How about… becoming a safari guide?” Allegedly, Charles responded with, “No, my dear boy.”
Breaking from royal tradition, both Prince William and Prince Harry, the siblings of royal lineage, diverged by attending Eton school in Windsor. The Prince of Wales achieved success in 12 GCSEs and earned three A-Levels in Geography (A), History of Art (A), and Biology (C).
On the other hand, Prince Harry secured 11 GCSEs and accomplished two A-Levels, achieving a B grade in Art and a D grade in Geography. Following his departure from Eton in 2003, the British royal embarked on a year of travel before enlisting in the army, where he held the rank of Captain and completed two deployments to Afghanistan.
Even though Harry has subsequently disclosed that he has “never experienced any remorse for [his] choice to forgo university,” he has communicated the significance of learning.
During a conversation with Malala Yousafzai, he conveyed: “I have immense appreciation for the schooling I had the privilege to receive. Perhaps at that moment, I might not have fully recognized it, but reflecting on it now, I feel incredibly fortunate to have been granted such an exceptional chance.”
Although he ultimately pursued a highly varied professional path, Prince Harry holds a special appreciation for his tenure in the military.
In a personal discussion with Anderson Cooper on the CBS show “60 Minutes,” Harry clarified: “It allowed me to step away from the intense scrutiny of the British media. I had the opportunity to dedicate myself to a mission that transcended my own interests, to don the same uniform as my peers, and to experience a sense of normalcy that had previously eluded me.”
“[I achieved] some of the most significant obstacles I had ever faced. I was a highly suitable candidate for the armed forces. I was a young individual in my twenties dealing with the effects of shock,” the 38-year-old further elaborated.
Beyond his military service, Harry has collaborated with his spouse Meghan Markle on several ventures. The couple entered into an agreement with Netflix in 2020, and while the precise value remains undisclosed, it is estimated to be near $100 million.
In December of the year 2022, they unveiled their docuseries “Harry & Meghan” on Netflix, and in the most recent week, Prince Harry offered an initial preview of his upcoming Netflix production centered around the Invictus Games. Enthusiasts of the royal couple won’t need to exercise patience, as the film is scheduled for premiere on the 30th of August.
