The Rugby Football Union ( RFU ) is the national governing body for rugby union in England. It was founded in 1871, and was the sport's international governing body prior to the formation of what is now known as World Rugby (WR) in 1886. It promotes and runs the sport, organises international matches for the England national team , and educates and trains players and officials.
124-536: The RFU is an industrial and provident society owned by over 2,000 member clubs, representing over 2.5 million registered players, and forms the largest rugby union society in the world, and one of the largest sports organisations in England. It is based at Twickenham Stadium , London. In September 2010 the equivalent women's rugby body, the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW), was able to nominate
248-503: A D.C. court. The move followed an initial failed freedom of information request that was asked for by the HF from DHS a year earlier. In September 2024, the case brought forward by the HF was closed due to the filing of two sealed orders and a sealed " memorandum opinion ". The HF subsequently filed a request to "vacate" the ruling and release confidential correspondence between the judge and DHS. In September 2020, Harry and his wife released
372-529: A Paralympic -style sporting event for injured servicemen and women, which was held on 10–14 September 2014. Harry met British hopefuls for the Invictus Games at Tedworth House in Wiltshire for the start of the selection process on 29 April 2014. On 15 May 2014, Harry attended a ticket sale launch for Invictus Games at BT Tower, from where he tweeted on the Invictus Games' official Twitter account as
496-518: A World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year award. England men's senior team England women's senior team England men's under-20 England men's sevens Premiership Rugby is an English professional rugby union competition. The Premiership consists of ten clubs, and is the top division of the English rugby union system . Premiership clubs qualify for Europe's two main club competitions,
620-527: A share capital . However, in an IPS the shares cannot usually increase in value beyond their nominal amount. Often, no interest or dividend is payable on them at all, and they are voting shares only. The capital of an IPS is therefore not made up of equity shares like those in a company limited by shares , which appreciate or fall in value with the success of the enterprise that issues them. Rather they are par-value shares, which can only be redeemed (if at all) at face value. The profits and losses of an IPS are thus
744-480: A broader range of experiences and a better understanding of ordinary life than previous royal children. She took them to venues that ranged from Walt Disney World and McDonald's to AIDS clinics and homeless shelters. Harry began accompanying his parents on official visits at an early age; his first overseas tour was with his parents to Italy in 1985. He also travelled with his family to Canada in 1991 and 1998. Harry's parents divorced in 1996. His mother died in
868-541: A car crash in Paris the following year while he and William were staying with their father at Balmoral Castle . Their father informed them about their mother's death. At his mother's funeral , Harry, then aged 12, accompanied his father, brother, paternal grandfather Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , and maternal uncle Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer , in walking behind the funeral cortège from Kensington Palace to Westminster Abbey . Harry and his brother William inherited
992-639: A ceremony at the Army Air Corps Base (AAC), Middle Wallop . Harry was awarded his Apache Flying Badge on 14 April 2011. On 16 April 2011, it was announced that Harry had been promoted to captain . In June 2011, Clarence House announced that Harry would be available for deployment in current operations in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter pilot. The final decision rested with the Ministry of Defence's senior commanders, including principally
1116-654: A charity event, Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, and they remained in the United Kingdom for her funeral. Harry and Meghan visited Nigeria in May 2024 to honour the work of the Invictus Games. According to CNN, their trip focused on "sports rehabilitation, mental health, and women's empowerment". Harry faced difficulties with obtaining and maintaining publicly funded security, both in Canada and
1240-863: A couple before they officially stepped down on 31 March. Harry's personal wealth was estimated at £30 million by The Daily Telegraph in 2020. Two years later, they made their first official appearance in the UK in June 2022 while attending the Platinum Jubilee National Service of Thanksgiving . The Sussexes visited the UK and Germany in September 2022 for a number of charity events in Manchester and Düsseldorf . On 8 September 2022, while Harry and Meghan were in London preparing to attend
1364-572: A couple. In October 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex travelled to Sydney, for the 2018 Invictus Games . This formed part of a Pacific tour that included Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. Harry identifies as a feminist . During their visit to Morocco in February 2019, the Duke and Duchess focused on projects centred on "women's empowerment, girls' education, inclusivity and encouragement of social entrepreneurship". As part of establishing
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#17327719592031488-466: A family". Harry completed 1,190 engagements between 2006 and 2019. In January 2020, the Duke and Duchess announced that they were stepping back from their role as senior members of the royal family, and would balance their time between the United Kingdom and North America. A statement released by the Palace confirmed that the Duke and Duchess were to become financially independent and cease to represent
1612-437: A high-value target (as several threats by various groups had already been made against him) and the dangers the soldiers around him would face should any attempt be made on his life or if he were captured. Clarence House made public Harry's disappointment with the decision, though he said he would abide by it. In the summer of 2007 Harry was trained as a joint terminal attack controller at RAF Leeming . In early June 2007, it
1736-490: A joint terminal attack controller to Helmand Province in Afghanistan for the previous ten weeks. The revelation came after the media – notably, German newspaper Bild and Australian magazine New Idea – breached the blackout placed over the information by the Canadian and British authorities. He was immediately pulled out due to the fear that the media coverage would put his security and
1860-544: A local pub in the summer of 2001. He adds in his memoir that he smoked cannabis at Eton and in Kensington Palace gardens, but he later told a court that "he never smoked in [his] father's house". In the memoir, he also detailed taking magic mushrooms at a party at Courteney Cox 's house in January 2016. In 2017 and during an appearance on Bryony Gordon 's podcast Mad World , Harry acknowledged that with
1984-706: A meeting attended by representatives from 21 clubs was held in London at the Pall Mall Restaurant on Regent Street . The 21 clubs present at the meeting were: Blackheath (represented by Burns and Frederick Stokes , the latter becoming the first captain of England ), Richmond , Ravenscourt Park , West Kent , Marlborough Nomads , Wimbledon Hornets , Gipsies , Civil Service , The Law Club , Wellington College , Guy's Hospital , Flamingoes , Clapham Rovers , Harlequin F.C. , King's College Hospital , St Paul's , Queen's House , Lausanne , Addison , Mohicans , and Belsize Park . The one notable omission
2108-758: A member to the RFU Council to represent women and girls rugby. The RFUW was integrated into the RFU in July 2012. On 4 December 1870, Edwin Ash of Richmond and Benjamin Burns of Blackheath published a letter in The Times suggesting that "those who play the rugby-type game should meet to form a code of practice as various clubs play to rules which differ from others, which makes the game difficult to play". On 26 January 1871
2232-425: A mixed-race person as a member of the royal family, especially in regard to Commonwealth countries with populations of blended or native ancestry. The marriage ceremony was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on 19 May 2018. The couple later revealed in the 2021 television interview Oprah with Meghan and Harry that, three days prior to the ceremony, they had privately exchanged vows in their garden, in
2356-621: A much-publicised American television interview with his wife and Oprah Winfrey . The couple filmed Harry & Meghan , a Netflix docuseries, which was released in December 2022. Prince Harry was born in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington , London, on 15 September 1984 at 16:20 BST as the second child of Charles, Prince of Wales (later King Charles III), and his first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales , during
2480-476: A panel at Wired ' s Re:Wired Conference, Harry claimed that a day before the January 6 United States Capitol attack he emailed Jack Dorsey , CEO of Twitter, and 'warned' of potential civil unrest, but had not received a response. In the same month, Conservative politician and MP Johnny Mercer , who was leading the efforts to waive visa fees for foreign-born UK veterans and their families, announced in
2604-406: A potential target, but added that he would face "the same risk as any other Apache pilot" while in combat. In files obtained on the incident, Major General Gregg A. Sturdevant was quoted as saying "The night of the attack, he slept through the entire thing. We didn't do anything special for him. He came and went, and you never would have known he was there" and "the only thing special we did for him
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#17327719592032728-487: A public house and also missed the meeting. As a result of this meeting the Rugby Football Union (RFU) was founded. Algernon Rutter was elected as the first president of the RFU, and Edwin Ash was elected as treasurer. Three lawyers who were Rugby School alumni (Rutter, Holmes and L.J. Maton) drew up the first laws of the game, which were approved in June 1871. Although similar unions were organised during
2852-967: A republic. He then visited Brazil to attend the GREAT Campaign. Harry also played tambourine and took part in the music video for the song " Sing ", which was released in May 2012 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee. Between 9 and 15 May 2013, he made an official visit to the United States. The tour promoted the rehabilitation of injured American and UK troops, publicised his own charities and supported British interests. It included engagements in Washington, DC, Colorado, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. He met survivors of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey. In October 2013, he undertook his first official tour of Australia, attending
2976-669: A separate office from that of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2019, the Duke and Duchess created an Instagram social media account, which broke the record for the fastest account at the time to reach a million followers. During his trip to Angola in 2019, the Duke visited the Born Free to Shine project in Luanda, an initiative by First Lady Ana Dias Lourenço which aims to "prevent HIV transmission from mothers to babies" through education, medical testing and treatment. He also met HIV+ youth and teenagers during his visit. During his visit to
3100-587: A statement announcing they had established their own office at nearby St James's Palace to look after their public, military and charitable activities. In March 2012, Harry led an official visit to Belize as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. He continued to the Bahamas and Jamaica, where the Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Miller , was considering initiating a process of turning Jamaica into
3224-536: A statement on his behalf to express personal concern about pejorative and false comments made about his girlfriend by mainstream media and internet trolls . In September 2017, Prince Harry and Markle first appeared together in public at the Invictus Games in Toronto. Their engagement was announced on 27 November 2017 by Harry's father. The announcement prompted generally positive comments about having
3348-462: A surgery for a minor hernia . In November 2000, he broke his thumb while playing football at Eton and underwent a minor operation. In his memoir, Spare , Harry admits that he took cocaine at the age of 17. In 2002, it was reported that, with Charles's encouragement, Harry had paid a visit to a drug rehabilitation unit to talk to drug addicts after it had emerged that he had been smoking cannabis and drinking at his father's Highgrove House and at
3472-593: A variety of ranges. Harry completed an insertion training exercise using a rigid-hull inflatable boat. In Sydney, he undertook urban operations training with the 2nd Commando Regiment. Training activities included remotely detonating an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and rappelling from a building. He also spent time flying over Sydney as co-pilot of an Army Black Hawk helicopter and participated in counter-terrorism training in Sydney Harbour with Royal Australian Navy clearance divers. Harry's attachment with
3596-479: A video addressing American voters to "reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity" in the 2020 United States presidential election , which was seen by some as an implicit endorsement of Joe Biden . Harry was the subject of a prank by the Russian comedy duo Vovan and Lexus , who posed as climate activist Greta Thunberg and her father during two phone calls on New Year's Eve and 22 January 2020. During
3720-766: A voluntary capacity with the Ministry of Defence, supporting Case Officers in the Ministry's Recovery Capability Programme. He would be working with both those who administer and receive physical and mental care within the London District area. On 6 April 2015, Harry reported for duty to Australia's Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin at the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra, Australia. Harry flew to Darwin later that day to begin his month-long secondment to
3844-399: Is a body corporate registered for carrying on any industries, businesses, or trades specified in or authorised by its rules. The members of a society benefit from the protection of limited liability much like other corporate forms, but unlike companies for example, each member will normally only have one vote at a General Meeting regardless of their shareholding. The governance of a society
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3968-691: Is located, run by Help for Heroes in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and Royal British Legion. On 17 March 2015, Kensington Palace announced that Harry would leave the Armed Forces in June. Before then, he would spend four weeks throughout April and May at army barracks in Darwin, Perth and Sydney whilst seconded to the Australian Defence Force (ADF). After leaving the Army, while considering his future, he would return to work in
4092-732: Is still used in statute in New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland and within the UK in Northern Ireland. The first legislation basis for industrial and provident societies arose in the Industrial and Provident Societies Partnership Act 1852 . The consolidated Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1893 ( 56 & 57 Vict. c. 39) was passed by the parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , and
4216-444: Is the second tier of the English rugby union league system and was founded in September 1987. The league was previously known as National Division One and in 2009 changed from a league consisting of semi-professional clubs to one that was fully professional . However since 2020 several clubs have since returned to a semi-professional model. The current champions are Jersey Reds after beating Ealing Trailfinders . The Premier 15s
4340-652: Is the top tier of the women's English rugby union domestic league system run by the Rugby Football Union. The league was created mainly from teams in the Women's Premiership . Its first season began on 16 September 2017. The current champions are Gloucester-Hartpury , with the runners up being Exeter Chiefs . Many of the teams have connections with premiership clubs. Royal Patrons of the Rugby Football Union: Industrial and provident society An industrial and provident society ( IPS )
4464-519: Is therefore democratically oriented rather than financially oriented. The legal form originated in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and became the traditional legal form taken by trading organisations with democratic governance including: In Great Britain the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 has renamed these societies as co-operative or community benefit societies . The term industrial and provident society
4588-445: Is truth and there is lies and unfortunately I cannot get the truth across." Davy was present when Harry received his Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan and also attended his graduation ceremony when he received his flying wings from his father. In early 2009, it was reported the pair had parted ways after a relationship that had lasted for five years. In his 2023 memoir, Harry states that months after breaking up with Davy he
4712-707: The Blues and Royals , a regiment of the Household Cavalry in the British Army. On 13 April 2008, when he reached two years' seniority, Harry was promoted to lieutenant . In 2006 it was announced that Harry's unit was scheduled to be deployed in Iraq the following year. A public debate ensued as to whether he should serve there. In April 2006, the Ministry of Defence announced that Harry would be shielded from
4836-612: The Captain General Royal Marines . In May 2018, he was promoted to the substantive ranks of Lieutenant Commander of the Royal Navy , Major of the British Army and Squadron Leader of the Royal Air Force . On 18 January 2020, Buckingham Palace announced that an agreement had been reached for Harry "to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments". In February 2021,
4960-697: The Chief of the Defence Staff in consultation with the wishes of Harry, the Prince of Wales, and the Queen. In October, he was transferred to a US military base in California to complete his helicopter gunship training. This final phase included live-fire training and "environmental and judgment training" at naval and air force facilities in California and Arizona. In the same month, it was reported that Harry
5084-574: The Combermere Barracks in May 2008. In October 2008, it was announced that Harry would follow his brother, father and uncle in learning to fly military helicopters. Harry attended the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury , where he joined his brother. He initially failed his pilot's theory test in February 2009. Prince Charles presented him with his flying brevet (wings) on 7 May 2010 at
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5208-585: The Commons that the Duke of Sussex was supportive of their proposal and viewed it as "morally right" and not as "a political intervention". In June 2022, in an interview with Jessica Yellin for Vogue , Meghan described Harry's reaction to the Supreme Court of the United States 's decision that abortion is not a protected constitutional right as "guttural". Harry later condemned the decision as "rolling back of constitutional rights" in his address to
5332-773: The European Rugby Champions Cup and the European Rugby Challenge Cup . The team finishing at the bottom of the Premiership each season was relegated to the second-division RFU Championship until 2020, and the winner of the Championship is promoted to the Premiership until 2022. The competition has been played since 1987, and has evolved into the current Premiership system. The current champions are Saracens . The most recently promoted side are Saracens. The RFU Championship
5456-563: The First Amendment as I sort of understand it, but it is bonkers." He added that it was "a huge subject and one which [he didn't] understand", emphasising that one could "capitalise or exploit what's not said rather than uphold what is said." The comments were met by backlash from conservative Americans and Britons, prompting figures such as Ted Cruz , Dan Crenshaw , Nigel Farage , Candace Owens , Jack Posobiec , and Laura Ingraham to criticise him publicly. In November 2021, in
5580-681: The International Fleet Review at Sydney Harbour . He also paid a visit to the Australian SAS HQ in Perth . In May 2014, he visited Estonia and Italy. In Estonia, he visited Freedom Square in the capital Tallinn to honour fallen Estonian soldiers. He also attended a reception at the Estonian Parliament and a NATO military exercise. In Italy, Harry attended commemorations of the 70th anniversary of
5704-971: The Monte Cassino battles , in which Polish, Commonwealth and British troops fought. He opened the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on 6 November 2014, a task usually performed by Prince Philip. Before reporting for duty to the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Harry visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on 6 April 2015. He made a farewell walkabout at the Sydney Opera House on 7 May 2015 and visited Macquarie University Hospital . He joined his father in Turkey to attend commemorations of
5828-499: The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham . A partnership between Help for Heroes, the Fisher House Foundation and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) Charity created the Centre. Fisher House Foundation is one of the Invictus Games' sponsors. In February and March 2015, Harry visited Phoenix House in Catterick Garrison , North Yorkshire, a recovery centre run by Help for Heroes. He also visited Merville Barracks in Colchester , where Chavasse VC House Personnel Recovery Centre
5952-416: The Regular Commissions Board (RCB) in September 2004 and entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 8 May 2005, where he was known as Officer Cadet Wales, and joined Alamein Company . His entry into the academy had to be delayed for 4 months as he recovered from an injury to his left knee. In April 2006, Harry completed his officer training and was commissioned as a Cornet ( second lieutenant ) in
6076-399: The Rugby World Cup , when they won the tournament back in 2003 . They were also runners-up in 1991 , 2007 and 2019 . They are currently ranked Fifth in the world by World Rugby as of 3rd October 2024. The England women's national rugby union team first played in 1982. England have taken part in every Women's Rugby World Cup competition. They won the competition in 1994 by defeating
6200-416: The United Kingdom , IPSs are registered (but not regulated) by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which took over the job from the Registrar of Friendly Societies when it was part of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) (both being supervised by the Treasury). Society registration is quite separate from the FCA's function of regulating financial institutions. Such businesses have been controlled in
6324-433: The common property of the members. The share often acts as no more than a "membership ticket", and voting is on a "one member one vote" basis. Working capital is usually provided through non-voting shares, and these are often withdrawable. Withdrawable share capital is an unusual form of finance which is treated as equity but may be withdrawn subject to specified conditions. It has the great advantage of being exempt from
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#17327719592036448-421: The "bulk" of the £12.9 million left by their mother on their respective 30th birthdays, a figure that had grown since her 1997 death to £10 million each in 2014. In 2014 Harry and William inherited their mother's wedding dress along with many of her other personal possessions, including dresses, diamond tiaras, jewels, letters, and paintings. The brothers also received the original lyrics and score of " Candle in
6572-540: The 100-strong 662 Squadron, 3 Regiment, Army Air Corps , to begin a four-month combat tour as a co-pilot and gunner for an Apache helicopter. On 10 September, within days of arriving in Afghanistan, it was reported that the Taliban had threatened his life. On 18 September 2012, it was reported that Harry had been moved to a safe location after an attack by the Taliban on Camp Bastion that killed two US marines. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond stated that "additional security arrangements" were put in place, for Harry could be
6696-429: The ADF ended on 8 May 2015, and on 19 June 2015 he resigned his short service commission. In 2021, Harry described his 10 years (2005–2015) in the army as "the happiest times in my life". Since leaving the army, he has been closely involved with the armed forces through the Invictus Games, honorary military appointments and other official engagements. On 19 December 2017, he succeeded his grandfather Prince Philip as
6820-414: The ADF's 1st Brigade. His visit included detachments to NORFORCE as well as to an aviation unit. While in Perth , he trained with Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), participating in the SASR selection course, including a fitness test and a physical training session with SASR selection candidates. He also joined SASR members in Perth for live-fire shooting exercises with numerous Special Forces weapons at
6944-446: The British throne . Educated at Wetherby School , Ludgrove School , and Eton College , Harry completed army officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst . He was commissioned as a cornet into the Blues and Royals and served temporarily with his elder brother, William . Harry was separately deployed on active duty to Afghanistan on two occasions; the first was in 2007–2008 for ten weeks in Helmand Province . The second
7068-427: The Duke later reimbursing expenses beyond restoration and ordinary maintenance, a part of which was offset against rental payments that were due at the time. On 6 May 2019, the Duke and Duchess's son, Archie , was born. Their office was moved to Buckingham Palace and officially closed on 31 March 2020 when the Sussexes ceased "undertaking official engagements in support of the Queen". After some months in Canada and
7192-469: The Financial Services and Markets Act, which makes the sale of securities to the public a criminal offence without compliance with expensive and onerous regulations. However, an IPS with withdrawable share capital is not allowed to carry on a banking business, presumably because a withdrawable share capital would make it impractical to ensure capital adequacy requirements are continuously met. The terms of society shares, whether withdrawable or not, may include
7316-411: The Heritage Foundation (HF) sent a dossier on Harry's drug use to different government entities, asking whether he had admitted to past drug use on his U.S. visa application. The following month, they filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demanding his immigration records. In March 2024, the U.S. government was ordered to hand over Harry's visa application details to
7440-469: The Legislative Reform (Industrial and Provident Societies and Credit Unions) Order 2011 increased the maximum shareholding limit, changed the date of submission of the annual return, permitted children to be members, and allows the publication of unaudited interim accounts. In January 2012, the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron announced a project to consolidate all the legislation applicable to industrial and provident societies to be passed by 2015. There
7564-414: The London District's Personal Recovery Unit for the MOD's Defence Recovery Capability scheme to ensure that wounded personnel have adequate recovery plans. The palace confirmed weeks later that the scheme was established in partnership with Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion . In late January 2015, Harry visited The Battle Back Centre set up by the Royal British Legion, and Fisher House UK at
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#17327719592037688-416: The Luengue-Luiana National Park, the Duke unveiled an initiative by the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy to help with protecting "an ancient elephant migration route" by providing safe passage for them in the forest. In September and October 2019, a Southern African tour included Malawi, Angola, South Africa and Botswana. Because infant son Archie travelled with the Sussexes, this was "their first official tour as
7812-429: The Ministry of Defence announced that Harry had completed his attachment to 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, and would take up a staff officer role, SO3 (Defence Engagement) in HQ London District. His responsibilities would include helping to coordinate significant projects and commemorative events involving the Army in London. He was based at Horse Guards in central London. On 6 March 2014, Harry launched Invictus Games ,
7936-513: The NRFU in the first few years of its existence. The RFU long resisted competitions and leagues fearing that they would encourage foul play and professionalism. The first club competition, then known as the R.F.U. Club Competition, took place in 1972. Following a sponsorship agreement it became known as the John Player Cup in 1976. The RFU agreed to the formation of a league pyramid in 1987. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex served as patron until February 2021. Catherine, Princess of Wales took over
8060-468: The Palace confirmed that the Duke would give up his position as Captain General Royal Marines and hand back all the other honorary military appointments. Chelsy Davy , the daughter of Zimbabwean South Africa-based businessman Charles Davy, was referred to as Harry's girlfriend in an interview conducted for his 21st birthday, and Harry said he "would love to tell everyone how amazing she is but once I start talking about that, I have left myself open.... There
8184-410: The Queen. At the time of the announcement of Harry and Meghan's decision to "step back" as senior members of the royal family in 2020, 95% of the couple's income derived from the £2.3 million given to them annually by Harry's father, Charles, as part of his income from the Duchy of Cornwall . The couple retain their HRH stylings but are not permitted to use them. The formal role of the Duke and Duchess
8308-430: The RFU. A similar interpretation was applied to all players who played either for or against such clubs, whether or not they received any compensation. These players were barred indefinitely from any involvement in organised rugby union. These comprehensive and enduring sanctions, combined with the very localised nature of most rugby competition, meant that most northern clubs had little practical option but to affiliate with
8432-443: The Sevens Series is second place, which they have achieved four times, most recently in the 2016-17 season. The England Sevens team has generated several notable sevens players. Ben Gollings holds the record for points scored on the Sevens Series with 2,652 points. Dan Norton holds the record for tries scored on the Sevens Series with 338 tries as of October 2019. England's Simon Amor (2004) and Ollie Phillips (2009) have each won
8556-475: The Troop Leaders' Course in October 2006 and rejoined his regiment in Windsor, where he was put in charge of a troop of 11 soldiers and four Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles. The Ministry of Defence and Clarence House made a joint announcement on 22 February 2007 that Harry would be deployed with his regiment to Iraq, as part of the 1st Mechanised Brigade of the 3rd Mechanised Division – a move supported by Harry, who had stated that he would leave
8680-489: The UK. Recent research has shown that this model has proven very resilient, with 92% of all businesses who have raised capital through community shares still trading to date. As community share offers are exempt from formal regulation, the Community Shares Unit (CSU) oversees best practice standards, intelligence and development of the community shares market. The CSU is a formal partnership between Co-operatives UK , Locality and The Plunkett Foundation . In depth guidance on
8804-466: The US in mid-2018. The Prince was appointed the president of The Queen's Commonwealth Trust , which focuses on projects involving children and welfare of prisoners, in April. Periodically, online QCT chat sessions were conducted and uploaded to YouTube for general public viewing. He remained the charity's president until February 2021. In July 2018, Harry travelled to Dublin , Ireland, alongside his wife Meghan, which marked their first overseas visit as
8928-673: The United Kingdom, after he and Meghan announced their self-demotion within the royal family. While the couple resided on Vancouver Island , the Canadian Taxpayers Federation launched a petition calling for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to cease providing security to the Sussexes. The Government of Canada announced RCMP security would not be provided after March 2020 when the couple's status changed. A similar petition circulated in
9052-654: The United Nations on Mandela Day in July 2022. Associate justice of the Supreme Court Samuel Alito , who wrote the majority decision for the case, criticised foreign figures including Harry for their comments on "American law" during a speech. In June 2023, Harry broke royal protocol by criticising the UK government in his witness statement to a court. He argued that both the British press and
9176-576: The United States 38–23 in the final, and again in 2014 by beating Canada 21–9 in the final. They finished as runner-up on four other occasions. Their coach is Simon Middleton after their coach Gary Street , who had been head coach since 2006, retired in 2015. The England national rugby sevens team competes in the World Rugby Sevens Series , Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games . England's best finish in
9300-576: The United States, the couple bought a house in June 2020 on the former estate of Riven Rock in Montecito, California . The next month, the Duchess suffered a miscarriage . On 4 June 2021, their daughter, Lilibet , was born. The Duke and Duchess own a Labrador named Pula, and two Beagles named Guy and Mamma Mia. In 2017, Harry stated that he had "five or six" godchildren, some of whom later attended his wedding. In May 1988, Harry underwent
9424-463: The Wind ", by Bernie Taupin and Elton John , as performed by John at Diana's funeral. In 2002 The Times reported that Harry would also share with his brother a disbursement of £4.9 million from trust funds established by their great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother , on their respective 21st birthdays and would share a disbursement of £8 million upon their respective 40th birthdays. It
9548-538: The annual Six Nations Championship with France , Ireland , Scotland , Italy , and Wales . They have won this championship outright on a total of 28 occasions (with the addition of 10 shared victories), 13 times winning the Grand Slam and 25 times winning the Triple Crown , making them the most successful team in the tournament's history. England are to date the only team from the northern hemisphere to win
9672-597: The army if he was told to remain in safety while his regiment went to war. The head of the British army at the time, General Sir Richard Dannatt , said on 30 April 2007 that he had personally decided that Harry would serve with his unit in Iraq as a troop commander, and Harry was scheduled for deployment in May or June 2007 to patrol the Maysan Governorate . By 16 May, however, Dannatt announced that Harry would not serve in Iraq; concerns included Harry being
9796-770: The audit exemption threshold level for industrial and provident societies to £5.6 million. Also the Charities Act 2006 removed certain exemptions of charitable IPSs in England and Wales. From that point, charitable IPSs had to register with both the FCA and the Charity Commission, except registered social landlords , who register with the Tenant Services Authority . Since 2010 the IPS laws explicitly name co-operatives in their titles. In 2011,
9920-755: The centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign in April 2015. In October 2015, Harry carried out a day of engagements in the US. He launched the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 with First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Jill Biden at Fort Belvoir . He later attended an Invictus Games board meeting and a reception to celebrate the launch at the British Ambassador's Residence. Harry, as patron of Sentebale, travelled to Lesotho to attend
10044-421: The conversations, Harry described his decision to leave the monarchy as "not easy" and criticised Donald Trump 's stance on climate change and his support of the coal industry. In May 2021, Harry was a guest on Dax Shepard and Monica Padman 's podcast Armchair Expert during which he talked about the freedom of speech and laws related to it in the United States, stating "I've got so much I want to say about
10168-474: The end of March 2016 to help rebuild a secondary school with Team Rubicon UK, and visited a Hydropower Project in Central Nepal. In April 2018, he was appointed Commonwealth youth ambassador , a position which he held until March 2020. Also in that month, Harry became a patron of Walk of America, a campaign which brings together a number of veterans who will take part in a 1,000-mile expedition across
10292-418: The faltering results of the England national team, Rob Andrew was appointed on 18 August 2006 by the RFU to the post of Director of Elite Rugby, to oversee all aspects of representative rugby in England from the regional academies to the full senior side, including senior team selection powers and the power to hire and fire coaches at all levels of English rugby. Andrew also had the task of building bridges with
10416-464: The female category, and to require a risk assessment for transgender men. The Liverpool Tritons, in coordination with International Gay Rugby , have condemned the decision and protested at Pride in Liverpool . In September 2022, transgender player Julie Curtiss began a legal challenge to the ban on transgender women in female rugby by sending the RFU a pre-action protocol letter. In response to
10540-560: The front line if his unit was sent to war, with a spokeswoman stating that he was expected to "undertake the fullest range of deployments", but his role needed to be monitored as "his overt presence might attract additional attention" that would put him or those he commanded at risk. Defence Secretary John Reid said that he should be allowed to serve on the front line of battle zones. Harry agreed saying, "If they said 'no, you can't go front line' then I wouldn't drag my sorry ass through Sandhurst and I wouldn't be where I am now." Harry completed
10664-484: The government were "at rock bottom" and instead of scrutinising the government the press got "into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo". At the age of 21, Harry was appointed a Counsellor of State and began his duties in that capacity. The Queen granted Harry and William their own royal household on 6 January 2009. Previously, William and Harry's affairs had been handled by their father's office at Clarence House in central London. The new household released
10788-494: The heavy load of official visits and functions had eventually "led to burnout ". In an episode of Armchair Expert , Harry attributed his mental health issues to the ineffective parenting style of previous generations and to the "genetic pain and suffering" passed down in his family, adding that he believed his issues stemmed from "the pain or suffering that perhaps my father or my parents had suffered". In his 2023 memoir, Harry described himself as an agoraphobe . In March 2023,
10912-542: The lease after photos of the house and its interior were published by a paparazzi agency. The couple considered settling at the 21-room Apartment 1 within Kensington Palace, but moved to Frogmore Cottage in the Home Park of Windsor Castle which Queen Elizabeth II had recently gifted to them instead. The Crown Estate refurbished the cottage at a cost of £2.4 million, paid out of the Sovereign Grant , with
11036-421: The legislation and best practice standards on running community share offers is available from The Community Shares Handbook . Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex , (Henry Charles Albert David; born 15 September 1984) is a member of the British royal family . As the younger son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales , he is fifth in the line of succession to
11160-674: The next few years in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, France, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, the RFU was the first and therefore had no need to distinguish itself from others by calling itself the English RFU. Twenty-two rugby clubs from across the north of England met on 29 August 1895 in the George Hotel in Huddersfield, where they voted to secede from the Rugby Football Union. The main reason for
11284-894: The opening of the Mamohato Children's Centre in November 2015. From 30 November to 3 December 2015, he made an official visit to South Africa. He visited Cape Town, where he presented the insignia of the Order of the Companions of Honour to the Archbishop on behalf of the Queen. Harry also played the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup, at Val de Vie Estate in Cape Town, fundraising for Sentebale. He visited Nepal 19–23 March 2016. He stayed until
11408-616: The past by the Industrial and Provident Societies Partnership Act 1852 , the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1893 ( 56 & 57 Vict. c. 39), and the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 . The legislation in the Republic of Ireland is based on modifications of the UK Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1893 ( 56 & 57 Vict. c. 39). Unlike a company limited by guarantee (another form favoured by businesses not primarily motivated by profit), an IPS always has
11532-485: The payment of interest on the capital, but this may only be paid out of profits. The maximum individual withdrawable shareholding is currently set at £100,000 (although other IPSs may hold more shares than this). The limit used to include non-withdrawable shares, but this was removed in 2011. Since 2006, the FCA has been willing, in principle, to permit co-operative societies to have non-user investor members providing certain conditions are met and this, in combination with
11656-513: The premiership clubs and the RFU in terms of players withdrawal from their club duties for international duties. On 6 January 2011 his role of Director of Elite Rugby was scrapped in an overhaul of the organisation's structure. Chief executive John Steele opted to create a single rugby department divided into the areas of performance, operations and development with the emphasis on "delivering rugby at all levels", with each area having its own director. The England national rugby union team competes in
11780-538: The presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. However, this earlier exchange of vows was not an official religious or legally recognised marriage . The Duke and Duchess initially lived at Nottingham Cottage in London, in the grounds of Kensington Palace. In May 2018, it was reported that they had signed a two-year lease on WestfieldLarge, located on the Great Tew Estate in the Cotswolds . They gave up
11904-622: The president of the Games. To promote the Games, he was interviewed by BBC Radio 2 's Chris Evans along with two Invictus Games hopefuls. He said: "[The Invictus Games] is basically my full-time job at the moment, making sure that we pull this off." The show aired on 31 July 2014. Harry later wrote an article in The Sunday Times about his experiences in Afghanistan: how they had inspired him to help injured personnel and how, after
12028-669: The prudential regulation of credit unions was transferred to the PRA. In September 2013, the English and Scottish Law Commissions published a draft consolidation bill and related documents for consultation. Earlier that year, the UK Treasury, which is the department responsible for legislation for societies, published a series of proposals to increase the holding limit for withdrawable share capital in societies to at least £31,000, to apply insolvency rescue procedures to societies, and to change
12152-508: The recipients. In 2005 the RFU began talks about a merger with the governing body for women's rugby union the RFUW . In September 2010 the RFUW was able to nominate a member to the RFU Council to represent women and girls rugby. The RFUW was integrated into the RFU in July 2012. In July 2022, a vote of the RFU Council approved by a narrow margin to prohibit transgender women from playing in
12276-572: The reign of his paternal grandmother Elizabeth II . He was christened Henry Charles Albert David on 21 December 1984 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle , by Robert Runcie , the then Archbishop of Canterbury . Growing up, he was referred to as "Harry" by family, friends, and the public, and was nicknamed "Harold" by his brother. Harry and his elder brother, William , were raised at Kensington Palace in London, and Highgrove House in Gloucestershire. Diana wanted her sons to have
12400-419: The removal of the £100,000 holding limit for non-withdrawable shares, may open up wider possibilities for co-operatives to raise finance from investors while maintaining user control. Since 2012, the use of withdrawable share capital by community benefit societies has been commonly described as 'community shares'. Over £150 million has been raised in community shares by over 440 community owned businesses across
12524-499: The role as patron in February 2022. In October 2024, England head coach Steve Borthwick announced the RFU would introduce Enhanced Elite Player Squad (EPS) contracts. This would allow national team coaches to have final say on all sports science and medical matters relating to players. Initially, 17 contracts were handed to current England players with Maro Itoje , Marcus Smith and England captain Jamie George all being among
12648-549: The royal family and the tabloid press agreed Harry would be allowed to study free from intrusion in exchange for occasional photograph opportunities in what became known as the "pressure cooker agreement". In June 2003, Harry completed his education at Eton with two A-Levels , achieving a grade B in art and D in geography, having decided to drop history of art after AS level. He has been described as "a top tier athlete", having played competitive polo and rugby union . One of his former teachers, Sarah Forsyth, has asserted that he
12772-524: The rules applicable to their registers of members. Draft regulations linked to that consultation were also available, having been circulated to a small number of people. Those drafts and other materials, including a private member's bill to liberalise the use of share capital by societies presented to the UK House of Lords were explained and brought together online. A new Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act received royal assent in 2014. In
12896-563: The security of fellow soldiers at risk. It was later reported that Harry helped Gurkha troops repel an attack from Taliban insurgents, and performed patrol duty in hostile areas while in Afghanistan. Harry's tour made him the first member of the British royal family to serve in a war zone since his uncle Prince Andrew , who flew helicopters during the Falklands War . For Harry's service, his aunt Princess Anne presented him with an Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan at
13020-709: The split was the wish of players to be compensated for lost wages when playing Rugby. Many working class players in the North lost wages to play. The R.F.U. opposed players being paid. They set up the Northern Rugby Football Union (later renamed the Rugby Football League). The RFU took strong action against the clubs involved in the formation of the NRFU, all of whom were deemed to have forfeited their amateur status and therefore to have left
13144-1069: The support of his brother he had sought counselling years after his mother's death. He added that he had struggled with aggression, had suffered from anxiety during royal engagements, and had been "very close to a complete breakdown on numerous occasions". He later added that he had taken up boxing as a way of coping with mental stress and "letting out aggression". In other interviews he stated that besides therapy he took alcohol to cope and used experimental drugs recreationally , including " psychedelics , Ayahuasca , psilocybin , mushrooms." He also stated that what he experienced after his mother's death "was very much" post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In his mental-health television documentary, The Me You Can't See , which premiered in 2021, he added that he had undergone four years of therapy to address his mental health issues, having been encouraged to do so by his future wife after they had started dating. He also mentioned that he had suffered from " panic attacks [and] severe anxiety" in his late 20s and that
13268-654: The trip to the Warrior Games , he had vowed to create the Invictus Games. Harry and officials attended the British Armed Forces Team announcement for Invictus Games at Potters Field Park in August 2014. As president of the Invictus Games, he attended all events related to the Games from 8 to 14 September 2014. In January 2015, it was reported that Harry would take on a new role in supporting wounded service personnel by working alongside members of
13392-479: Was a "weak student" and that staff at Eton conspired to help him cheat on examinations. Both Eton and Harry denied the claims. While a tribunal made no ruling on the cheating claim, it "accepted the prince had received help in preparing his A-level 'expressive' project, which he needed to pass to secure his place at Sandhurst." Harry also joined the Combined Cadet Force while studying at Eton and
13516-549: Was admitted to Eton College . The decision to place Harry at Eton went against the past practice of the Mountbatten-Windsors to send children to Gordonstoun , which his grandfather, father, two uncles, and two cousins had attended. It did, however, see Harry follow in his elder brother's footsteps and the Spencer family's, as both his mother's father and her brother attended Eton. As was the case with his brother,
13640-567: Was amended in 1895 and 1913. This legislation still forms the basis of the law on societies in the Republic of Ireland . The Industrial and Provident Societies Act was passed by the parliament of New Zealand in 1908, and forms the basis of the law on societies in New Zealand. In 1965, an act of Parliament came into effect called the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 . In 2006, the Friendly and Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1968 (Audit Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2006 increased
13764-465: Was for twenty weeks in 2012–2013 with the Army Air Corps . Inspired by the Warrior Games in the United States, Harry launched the Invictus Games in 2014 as founding patron and now remains involved in a non-royal capacity. Two years later, alongside his brother William and sister-in-law Catherine , Harry jointly initiated the mental health awareness campaign "Heads Together". In 2018 Harry
13888-728: Was in its early stages. Some felt the reforms did not deal with certain key problems. Changes to the registration system under the Financial Services Act 2012 which splits the Financial Services Authority into the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) took effect on 1 April 2013. The registration function for societies was transferred to the FCA while
14012-537: Was introduced to Caroline Flack , whom he described as "funny", "sweet", and "cool". The two saw each other for a while before press intrusion "tainted" their relationship "irredeemably" according to Harry. Flack had discussed the relationship in her own autobiography as well. In May 2012, Harry's cousin Princess Eugenie introduced him to Cressida Bonas , an actress and model who is the granddaughter of Edward Curzon, 6th Earl Howe . On 30 April 2014, it
14136-439: Was made Duke of Sussex prior to his wedding to American actress Meghan Markle . They have two children: Archie and Lilibet . Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in January 2020, moved to Meghan's native Southern California , and launched Archewell Inc. , a Beverly Hills -based mix of for-profit and not-for-profit (charitable) business organisations. In March 2021, Harry sat for Oprah with Meghan and Harry ,
14260-694: Was made cadet officer in his final year, leading the corps' annual parade at the Eton tattoo. After school, Harry took a gap year , during which he spent time in Australia working as a jackaroo on a cattle station, and participating in the Young England vs Young Australia Polo Test match. He also travelled to Lesotho, where he worked with orphaned children and produced the documentary film The Forgotten Kingdom: Prince Harry in Lesotho . Harry passed
14384-649: Was reported that Harry had arrived in Canada to train alongside soldiers of the Canadian Forces and British Army, at CFB Suffield near Medicine Hat, Alberta . It was said that this was in preparation for a tour of duty in Afghanistan, where Canadian and British forces were participating in the NATO -led Afghan War . This was confirmed in February of the following year when the British Ministry of Defence revealed that Harry had been secretly deployed as
14508-580: Was reported that Harry would inherit the bulk of the money left by the Queen Mother for the two brothers, as William is set to ascend to the throne, which will bring him additional financial benefits. Like his father and brother, Harry was educated at private schools . He started at London's Jane Mynors' nursery school and the pre-preparatory Wetherby School . Following this, he attended Ludgrove School in Berkshire. After passing entrance exams, he
14632-453: Was reported that the couple had parted amicably. In mid-2016, Harry began a relationship with American actress Meghan Markle . According to the couple, they first connected with each other via Instagram , though they have also said that they were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend in July 2016. On 8 November, eight days after the relationship was made public by the press, the prince directed his communications secretary to release
14756-412: Was some uncertainty as to how far new developments would address the problems with the legislation. Cameron stated, "We know that breaking monopolies, encouraging choice, opening up new forms of enterprise is not just right for business but the best way of improving public services too." Ed Mayo , Secretary General of Co-operatives UK , welcomed the project. In mid-2012, revision of laws for co-operative
14880-682: Was subject to a twelve-month review period, ending in March 2021. In March 2020, Harry attended the opening of the Silverstone Experience in Silverstone Circuit together with racing driver Lewis Hamilton . Harry's appearance at the museum was his final solo engagement as a senior royal. He and Meghan attended the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on 9 March 2020, which was their last engagement as
15004-537: Was the Wasps . According to one version, a Wasps' representative was sent to attend the meeting, but owing to a misunderstanding was sent to the wrong venue at the wrong time on the wrong day; another version is that he went to a venue of the same name where, after consuming a number of drinks, he realised his mistake but was too drunk to make his way to the correct venue. Ealing Rugby Club (now Ealing Trailfinders) also received an invitation, but their representative stopped in
15128-683: Was top of his class in extensive training undertaken at the Naval Air Facility , El Centro, California . While training in Southern California, he spent time in San Diego. In November 2011, Harry returned to England. He went to Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk, in the east of England, to complete his training to fly Apache helicopters. On 7 September 2012, Harry arrived at Camp Bastion in southern Afghanistan as part of
15252-666: Was trained to not view them as "people" but instead as "chess pieces" that had been taken off the board. He added that "It's not a number that gave me any satisfaction. But neither was it a number that made me feel ashamed." Following the publishing of Harry's claims, Pen Farthing , a British former Royal Marines commando and founder of the Nowzad Dogs charity, was evacuated from Kabul on 6 January 2023 to avoid "potential reprisal attacks on ex-forces people." Harry's revelations prompted backlash from both Taliban members and British politicians and military figures. On 17 January 2014,
15376-612: Was we had a place identified as a safe house in case the base came under attack." On 21 January 2013, it was announced that Harry was returning from a 20-week deployment in Afghanistan. On 8 July 2013, the Ministry of Defence announced that Harry had successfully qualified as an Apache aircraft commander. Harry compared operating the Apache's weapons systems in Afghanistan to playing video games. Harry later revealed in his 2023 memoir Spare that he flew on six missions that resulted in him killing 25 Taliban members, writing that he felt he
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