Common name	the Bahamas
Conventional long name	Commonwealth of the Bahamas
Image coat	Coat of arms of Bahamas.svg
National motto	"Forward, Upward, Onward, Together"
National anthem	"March On, Bahamaland"
Royal anthem	"God Save the Queen"
Official languages	English
Regional languages	Bahamian Dialect
Ethnic groups	85% Afro-Bahamian, 12% European Bahamian, 3% Asians and Hispanic
Demonym	Bahamian
Capital	Nassau
Largest city	capital
Government type	Unitary Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy .
Leader title1	Monarch
Leader name1	Elizabeth II
Leader title2	Governor-General
Leader name2	Sir Arthur Foulkes
Leader title3	Prime Minister
Leader name3	Hubert Ingraham
Legislature	Parliament
Upper house	Senate
Lower house	House of Assembly
Area rank	160th
Area magnitude	1 E10
Area km2	13878
Area sq mi	5358
Percent water	28%
Population estimate	330,000
Population estimate year	2009
Population estimate rank	177th
Population census	254,685
Population census year	1990
Population density km2	23.27
Population density sq mi	60
Population density rank	181st
Gdp ppp year	2010
Gdp ppp	$8.921 billion
Gdp ppp per capita	$25,894
Gdp nominal year	2010
Gdp nominal	$7.538 billion
Gdp nominal per capita	$21,878
Hdi year	2010
Hdi	0.784
Hdi rank	43rd
Hdi category	very high
Sovereignty type	Independence
Established event1	from the United Kingdom
Established date1	July 10, 1973
Currency	Bahamian dollar
Currency code	BSD
Country code	BAH
Time zone	EST
Utc offset	−5
Time zone dst	EDT
Utc offset dst	−4
Drives on	left
Iso 3166 code	BS
Cctld	.bs
Calling code	+1-242 }}

The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets (rocks). It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States (nearest to the state of Florida). Its total land area is , with an estimated population of 330,000. Its capital is Nassau. Geographically, The Bahamas lie in the same island chain as Cuba, Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos Islands; the designation of Bahamas refers normally to the Commonwealth and not the geographic chain.

Originally inhabited by the Lucayans, a branch of the Arawakan-speaking Taino people, The Bahamas were the site of Columbus' first landfall in the New World in 1492. Although the Spanish never colonized The Bahamas, they shipped the native Lucayans to slavery in Hispaniola. The islands were mostly deserted from 1513 to 1648, when English colonists from Bermuda settled on the island of Eleuthera.

The Bahamas became a Crown Colony in 1718 when the British clamped down on piracy. Following the American War of Independence, thousands of pro-British loyalists and enslaved Africans moved to The Bahamas and set up a plantation economy. The slave trade was abolished in the British Empire in 1807 and many Africans liberated from slave ships by the Royal Navy were settled in The Bahamas during the 19th century. Slavery itself was abolished in 1834 and the descendants of enslaved and liberated Africans form the bulk of The Bahamas's population today.

In terms of GDP per capita, the Bahamas is the third richest country in the Americas (following the United States and Canada), and the richest in the world whose population is predominantly of African origin.

Etymology

The origin of the name ''Bahamas'' is unclear. It may derive from the Spanish ''baja mar'' ("low sea") or the Lucayan word for Grand Bahama island, ''ba-ha-ma'' ("large upper middle land").

History

Taino people moved into the uninhabited southern Bahamas from Hispaniola and Cuba around the 11th century AD. These people came to be known as the Lucayans. There were an estimated 30,000+ Lucayans at the time of Columbus's arrival in 1492. Christopher Columbus's first landfall in the New World was on an island named San Salvador (known to the Lucayans as Guanahani), which is generally accepted to be present-day San Salvador Island, (also known as Watling's Island) in the southeastern Bahamas.

An alternative theory holds that Columbus landed to the southeast on Samana Cay, according to calculations made in 1986 by ''National Geographic'' writer and editor Joseph Judge based on Columbus's log. Evidence in support of this remains inconclusive. On the landfall island, Columbus made first contact with the Lucayans and exchanged goods with them.

The Lucayans throughout The Bahamas were wiped out as a result of Spanish forced migration of the population to Hispaniola for use as forced labour there, and exposure to diseases to which they had no immunity. The smallpox that ravaged the Taino Indians after Columbus's arrival wiped out half of the population in what is now The Bahamas.

It is generally assumed that the islands were uninhabited by Europeans until the mid-17th century. However, recent research suggests that there may have been attempts to settle the islands by groups from Spain, France, and Britain, as well as by other Amerindians. In 1648, the Eleutherian Adventurers migrated from Bermuda. These English Puritans established the first permanent European settlement on an island which they named Eleuthera—the name derives from the Greek word for freedom. They later settled New Providence, naming it Sayle's Island after one of their leaders. To survive, the settlers resorted to salvaged goods from wrecks.

In 1670 King Charles II granted the islands to the Lords Proprietors of the Carolinas, who rented the islands from the king with rights of trading, tax, appointing governors, and administering the country. In 1684 Spain's corsair Juan de Alcon raided the capital Charles Town, and in 1703 a joint Franco-Spanish expedition briefly occupied the Bahamian capital during the War of the Spanish Succession.

18th century

During proprietary rule, The Bahamas became a haven for pirates, including the infamous Blackbeard. To restore orderly government, The Bahamas were made a British crown colony in 1718 under the royal governorship of Woodes Rogers, who, after a difficult struggle, succeeded in suppressing piracy. In 1720, Rogers led local militia to drive off a Spanish attack.

During the American War of Independence, the islands were a target for American naval forces under the command of Commodore Ezekial Hopkins. The capital of Nassau on the island of New Providence was occupied by US Marines for a fortnight.

In 1782, following the British defeat at Yorktown, a Spanish fleet appeared off the coast of Nassau, and the city surrendered without a fight.

After American independence, some 7,300 Loyalists and their slaves moved to The Bahamas from New York, Florida, and The Carolinas. These Loyalists established plantations on several islands and became a political force in the capital. The small population became mostly African from this point on.

The British abolished the slave trade in 1807, which led to the forced settlement on Bahamian islands of thousands of Africans liberated from slave ships by the Royal Navy. Slavery itself was finally abolished in the British Empire on August 1, 1834.

20th century

Modern political development began after the Second World War. The first political parties were formed in the 1950s and the British made the islands internally self-governing in 1964, with Sir Roland Symonette of the United Bahamian Party as the first premier.

In 1967, Sir Lynden Pindling of the Progressive Liberal Party became the first black premier of the colony, and in 1968 the title was changed to prime minister. In 1973, The Bahamas became fully independent, but retained membership in the Commonwealth of Nations. Sir Milo Butler was appointed the first Bahamian governor-general (the representative of Queen Elizabeth II) shortly after independence.

Based on the twin pillars of tourism and offshore finance, the Bahamian economy has prospered since the 1950s. However, there remain significant challenges in areas such as education, health care, housing, international narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration from Haiti.

Geography and climate

The country lies between latitudes 20° and 28°N, and longitudes 72° and 80°W.

The closest island to the United States is Bimini, which is also known as the gateway to The Bahamas. The island of Abaco is to the east of Grand Bahama. The southeasternmost island is Inagua. The largest island is Andros Island. Other inhabited islands include Eleuthera, Cat Island, Long Island, San Salvador Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, Exuma and Mayaguana. Nassau, capital city of The Bahamas, lies on the island of New Providence.

All the islands are low and flat, with ridges that usually rise no more than . The highest point in the country is Mount Alvernia, formerly called Como Hill, which has an altitude of on Cat Island.

To the southeast, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and three more extensive submarine features called Mouchoir Bank, Silver Bank, and Navidad Bank, are geographically a continuation of The Bahamas, but not part of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Climate

The climate of The Bahamas is subtropical to tropical, and is moderated significantly by the waters of the Gulf Stream, particularly in winter. Conversely, this often proves very dangerous in the summer and autumn, when hurricanes pass near or through the islands. Hurricane Andrew hit the northern islands during the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season, and Hurricane Floyd hit most of the islands during the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season.

While there has never been a freeze reported in The Bahamas, the temperature can fall as low as during Arctic outbreaks that affect nearby Florida. Snow was reported to have mixed with rain in Freeport in January 1977, the same time that it snowed in the Miami area. The temperature was about at the time.

Government and politics

The Bahamas is a sovereign, independent, nation. Political and legal traditions closely follow those of the United Kingdom and the Westminster system. The Bahamas is a parliamentary democracy with two main parties, the Free National Movement and the Progressive Liberal Party.

Tourism generates about half of all jobs, but the number of visitors has dropped significantly since the beginning of the global economic downturn during the last quarter of 2008. Banking and international financial services also have contracted, and The Bahamas is one of 34 secrecy jurisdictions that would be subject to the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act introduced in the U.S. Congress.

The Bahamas is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, and a Commonwealth realm with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state (represented by a Governor-General).

Legislative power is vested in a bicameral parliament, which consists of a 41-member House of Assembly (the lower house), with members elected from single-member districts, and a 16-member Senate, with members appointed by the governor-general, including nine on the advice of the prime minister, four on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and three on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition. The House of Assembly carries out all major legislative functions. As under the Westminster system, the prime minister may dissolve parliament and call a general election at any time within a five-year term.

The Prime Minister is the head of government and is the leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Assembly. Executive power is exercised by the cabinet, selected by the prime minister and drawn from his supporters in the House of Assembly. The current governor-general is Sir Arthur Foulkes and the current Prime Minister is Hubert Ingraham.

The Bahamas has a largely two-party system dominated by the centre-left Progressive Liberal Party and the centre-right Free National Movement. A handful of splinter parties have been unable to win election to parliament. These parties have included the Bahamas Democratic Movement, the Coalition for Democratic Reform and the Bahamian Nationalist Party.

Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association. Although The Bahamas is not geographically located in the Caribbean, it is a member of the Caribbean Community. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Jurisprudence is based on English law.

Administrative divisions

The districts of The Bahamas provide a system of local government everywhere except New Providence, whose affairs are handled directly by the central government. In 1996, the Bahamian Parliament passed "The Local Government Act" to facilitate the establishment of Family Island Administrators, Local Government Districts, Local District Councillors, and Local Town Committees for the various island communities. The overall goal of this act is to allow the various elected leaders to govern and oversee the affairs of their respective districts without the interference of Central Government. In total, there are 32 districts, with elections being held every three years. There are also one hundred and ten Councillors and two hundred and eighty-one Town Committee members to correspond with the various districts.

Each Councillor or Town Committee member is responsible for the proper use of public funds for the maintenance and development of their constituency.

The districts other than New Providence are:

Military

The Bahamas does not have an army or an air force. Its military is composed of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), the navy of The Bahamas. Under The Defence Act, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force has been mandated to defend The Bahamas, protect its territorial integrity, patrol its waters, provide assistance and relief in times of disaster, maintain order in conjunction with the law enforcement agencies of The Bahamas, and carry out any such duties as determined by the National Security Council. The Defence Force is also a member of Caricom's Regional Security Task Force.

National symbols

National flag

The colours embodied in the design of the Bahamian flag symbolise the image and aspirations of the people of The Bahamas; the design reflects aspects of the natural environment (sun, sand, and sea) and the economic and social development. The flag is a black equilateral triangle against the mast, superimposed on a horizontal background made up of two colours on three equal stripes of aquamarine, gold and aquamarine.

The symbolism of the flag is as follows: Black, a strong colour, represents the vigour and force of a united people, the triangle pointing towards the body of the flag represents the enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop and possess the rich resources of sun and sea symbolized by gold and aquamarine respectively. In reference to the representation of the people with the colour black, some white Bahamians have joked that they are represented in the thread which "holds it all together."

Coat of arms

The Coat of Arms of The Bahamas contains a shield with the national symbols as its focal point. The shield is supported by a marlin and a flamingo, which are the national animals of The Bahamas. The flamingo is located on the land, and the marlin on the sea, indicating the geography of the islands.

On top of the shield is a conch shell, which represents the varied marine life of the island chain. The conch shell rests on a helmet. Below this is the actual shield, the main symbol of which is a ship representing the ''Santa María'' of Christopher Columbus, shown sailing beneath the sun. Along the bottom, below the shield appears a banner upon which is scripted the national motto:

''"Forward, Upward, Onward Together."''

National flower

The yellow elder was chosen as the national flower of The Bahamas because it is native to the Bahama Islands, and it blooms throughout the year.

Selection of the yellow elder over many other flowers was made through the combined popular vote of members of all four of New Providence's garden clubs of the 1970s – the Nassau Garden Club, the Carver Garden Club, the International Garden Club, and the YWCA Garden Club.

They reasoned that other flowers grown there – such as the bougainvillea, hibiscus, and poinciana – had already been chosen as the national flowers of other countries. The yellow elder, on the other hand, was unclaimed by other countries (although it is now also the national flower of the United States Virgin Islands).

Economy

One of the most prosperous countries in the Caribbean region, The Bahamas relies on tourism to generate most of its economic activity. Tourism as an industry not only accounts for over 60 percent of the Bahamian GDP, but provides jobs for more than half the country's workforce. After tourism, the next most important economic sector is financial services, accounting for some 15 percent of GDP.

The government has adopted incentives to encourage foreign financial business, and further banking and finance reforms are in progress. The government plans to merge the regulatory functions of key financial institutions, including the Central Bank of The Bahamas (CBB) and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Central Bank administers restrictions and controls on capital and money market instruments. The Bahamas International Securities Exchange currently consists of 19 listed public companies. Reflecting the relative soundness of the banking system (mostly populated by Canadian banks), the impact of the global financial crisis on the financial sector has been limited.

The economy has a very competitive tax regime. The government derives its revenue from import tariffs, license fees, property and stamp taxes, but there is no income tax, corporate tax, capital gains tax, value-added tax (VAT), or wealth tax. Payroll taxes fund social insurance benefits. In the most recent year, Overall tax revenue as a percentage of GDP is 21.8 percent. Authorities are trying to increase tax compliance and collection in the wake of the global crisis. Inflation has been moderate, averaging 3.7 percent between 2006 and 2008.

By the terms of GDP per capita, the Bahamas is the third richest country in the Americas (after the United States and Canada).

Ethnic groups

Afro-Bahamians

Afro-Bahamians or Bahamians of African descent are Bahamians whose ancestry lies within the continent of Africa, most notably West Africa. The first Africans to arrive to The Bahamas came from Bermuda with the Eleutheran Adventurers as freed slaves looking for a new life. Currently, Afro-Bahamians are the largest ethnic group in The Bahamas, accounting for some 85% of the country's population.

Europeans

European Bahamians, or Bahamians of European descent, numbering about 38,000, are mainly the descendants of the British Puritans and American Loyalists who arrived in 1649 and 1783 respectively. They form the largest minority group in The Bahamas making up some 12% of the population.

A small portion of the European Bahamian population is descended from Greek labourers who came to help develop the sponging industry in the 1900s. Although making up less than 1% of the nation's population, they have been able to preserve their distinct Greek culture.

One of the most interesting, if sometimes confusing features of the Bahamian genealogy is that most families have branches, and even immediate family members, spanning the entire spectrum between ‘ recognized white’ and ‘unequivocally black.’ A-Z of Bahamas Heritage (MacMillan Caribbean)

Demographics

Population: 354,563

Age structure: 0–14 years: 25.9% (male 40,085; female 38,959)

:15–64 years: 67.2% (male 102,154; female 105,482) :65 years and over: 6.9% (male 8,772; female 12,704) (2009 est.) Population growth rate: 0.925% (2010 est.)

Birth rate: 17.81 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate: 9.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 23.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.87 years.

:Female: 73.49 years (2002 est.) :Male: 66.32 years Total fertility rate: 2.0 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Nationality: noun: Bahamian(s)

Adjective: Bahamian () Ethnic groups: African 85%, European 12%, Asian and Mestizo 3% (Roughly 1.5% each). Religions: Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2% The 'other' category includes Jews, Muslims, Baha'is, Hindus, Rastafarians, and practitioners of Obeah. Languages: English (official), Bahamian dialect

Literacy (age 15+): total population: 98.2%

:male: 98.5% :female: 98% (1995 est.)

Culture

In the less developed outer islands, handicrafts include basketry made from palm fronds. This material, commonly called "straw", is plaited into hats and bags that are popular tourist items. Another use is for so-called "Voodoo dolls," even though such dolls are the result of the American imagination and not based on historic fact.

Although not practised by native Bahamians, a form of folk magic obeah derived from West African origins, is practiced in some Family Islands (out-islands) of The Bahamas due to Haitian migration. The practice of obeah is however illegal in The Bahamas and punishable by law. Junkanoo is a traditional African street parade of music, dance, and art held in Nassau (and a few other settlements) every Boxing Day, New Year's Day. Junkanoo is also used to celebrate other holidays and events such as Emancipation Day.

Regattas are important social events in many family island settlements. They usually feature one or more days of sailing by old-fashioned work boats, as well as an onshore festival.

Some settlements have festivals associated with the traditional crop or food of that area, such as the "Pineapple Fest" in Gregory Town, Eleuthera or the "Crab Fest" on Andros. Other significant traditions include story telling.

See also

List of Bahamians

Lucayan Archipelago

Transport in the Bahamas

;Member of:

Caribbean Community

Commonwealth of Nations

Organization of American States

United Nations

References

Further reading

General history

Cash Philip ''et al.'' (Don Maples, Alison Packer). ''The Making of The Bahamas: A History for Schools''. London: Collins, 1978.

Albury, Paul. ''The Story of The Bahamas''. London: MacMillan Caribbean, 1975.

Miller, Hubert W. ''The Colonization of The Bahamas, 1647–1670,'' ''The William and Mary Quarterly'' 2 no.1 (January 1945): 33–46.

Craton, Michael. ''A History of The Bahamas''. London: Collins, 1962.

Craton, Michael and Saunders, Gail. ''Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People''. Athens:University of Georgia Press, 1992

Economic history

Johnson, Howard. ''The Bahamas in Slavery and Freedom''. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishing, 1991.

Johnson, Howard. ''The Bahamas from Slavery to Servitude, 1783–1933''. Gainesville: University of Florida Press, 1996.

Alan A. Block. ''Masters of Paradise'', New Brunswick and London, Transaction Publishers, 1998.

Storr, Virgil H. ''Enterprising Slaves and Master Pirates: Understanding Economic Life in the Bahamas''. New York: Peter Lang, 2004.

Social history

Johnson, Wittington B. ''Race Relations in the Bahamas, 1784–1834: The Nonviolent Transformation from a Slave to a Free Society.'' Fayetteville: University of Arkansas, 2000.

Shirley, Paul. "Tek Force Wid Force", ''History Today'' 54, no. 41 (April 2004): 30–35.

Saunders, Gail. ''The Social Life in the Bahamas 1880s–1920s''. Nassau: Media Publishing, 1996.

Saunders, Gail. ''Bahamas Society After Emancipation''. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishing, 1990.

Curry, Jimmy. ''Filthy Rich Gangster/First Bahamian Movie''. Movie Mogul Pictures: 1996.

Curry, Jimmy. ''To The Rescue/First Bahamian Rap/Hip Hop Song''. Royal Crown Records, 1985.

Morrelo, Ryan. "

External links

}}

Category:Caribbean countries Category:Island countries Category:Archipelagoes of the Atlantic Ocean Category:Former English colonies Category:Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations Category:Member states of the Caribbean Community Category:Populated places established in 1647 Category:English-speaking countries and territories Category:Constitutional monarchies Category:Liberal democracies Category:States and territories established in 1973 Category:Member states of the United Nations

af:Bahamas als:Bahamas ar:البهاما an:Bahamas roa-rup:Bahamas frp:Bahamas ast:Bahames az:Baham adaları bm:Bahamasi bn:বাহামা দ্বীপপুঞ্জ zh-min-nan:Bahamas be:Багамы be-x-old:Багамы bcl:Bahamas bo:བ་ཧ་མཱ་སི། bs:Bahami br:Bahamas bg:Бахамски острови ca:Bahames cv:Пахам утравĕсем ceb:Bahamas cs:Bahamy cy:Y Bahamas da:Bahamas de:Bahamas dv:ބަހާމަސް dsb:Bahamy dz:བཱ་ཧ་མས྄། et:Bahama el:Μπαχάμες es:Bahamas eo:Bahamoj ext:Baamas eu:Bahamak ee:Bahamas fa:باهاما hif:The Bahamas fr:Bahamas fy:Bahama's ga:Na Bahámaí gv:Ny Bahamaghyn gd:Na h-Eileanan Bhathama gl:Bahamas hak:Pâ-hâ-mâ xal:Багамуд Арлин Ниицән ko:바하마 hy:Բահամյան Կղզիներ hi:बहामास hsb:Bahamy hr:Bahami io:Bahama ilo:Bahamas bpy:বাহামা id:Bahama ia:Bahamas os:Багамы сакъадæхтæ is:Bahamaeyjar it:Bahamas he:איי בהאמה jv:Bahama kn:ಬಹಾಮಾಸ್ pam:Bahamas ka:ბაჰამის კუნძულები ks:बहामास kk:Бағамалар kw:Ynysow Bahama rw:Bahamasi sw:Bahamas ht:Bahamas ku:Bahama mrj:Багамвлӓ la:Insulae Bahamenses lv:Bahamas lb:Bahamas lt:Bahamos lij:Bahamas li:Bahama's ln:Bahamas lmo:Bahamas hu:Bahama-szigetek mk:Бахами mg:Bahamasy ml:ബഹാമാസ് mr:बहामास arz:باهاماس ms:Bahamas mwl:Bahamas nah:Bahamas na:Bahamas nl:Bahama's ja:バハマ ce:Багаман Гlайреш pih:Bahaamas no:Bahamas nn:Bahamas nov:Bahamas oc:Bahamas uz:Bagamalar pnb:باہاما pap:Bahamas pms:Bahamas nds:Bahamas pl:Bahamy pt:Bahamas crh:Bahamalar ro:Bahamas rm:Bahamas qu:Bahamakuna rue:Багамы ru:Багамские Острова sah:Баhамалар se:Bahama sa:बहामास sco:The Bahamas stq:Bahamas sq:Bahamet scn:Bahamas simple:The Bahamas ss:IBhahamasi sk:Bahamy sl:Bahami so:Bahamas ckb:بەھاما sr:Бахаме sh:Bahami fi:Bahama sv:Bahamas tl:Bahamas ta:பகாமாசு tt:Багамалар te:బహామాస్ tet:Bahamas th:ประเทศบาฮามาส tr:Bahamalar tk:Bagama Adalary uk:Багамські Острови ur:بہاماس ug:باھاما vec:Bahamas vi:Bahamas vo:Bahamuäns fiu-vro:Bahama war:Bahamas wo:Bahamas yi:באהאמאס yo:Àwọn Bàhámà zh-yue:巴哈馬 diq:Bahama bat-smg:Bahamas zh:巴哈马

name	Colton Harris-Moore
birth date	March 22, 1991
birth place	Camano Island, Washington, U.S.
height	6 ft 5 in (1.98 meters)
weight	205 pounds (93 kilograms)
citizenship	United States
other names	"Barefoot Bandit""Barefoot Burglar"(aliases) Colton A. Harris, Colton A. Harris-Molton, Colton Harris, Colton Moore, Colton A. Moore, Colton Koehler
known for	Theft
criminal charge	Interstate transportation of a stolen aircraft, interstate transport of a stolen gun and boat, flying a plane without a pilot's license, attempting to elude, being a fugitiive in possession of a gun, burglary, identity theft, illegal entry, illegally landing a plane, malicious mischief, motor vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, theft by unlawful taking or disposition
criminal status	Plead guilty, awaiting sentencing.
parents	Gordon MoorePamela A. Kohler
footnotes	}}

Colton A. "Colt" Harris-Moore (born March 22, 1991) is a criminal and former fugitive from Camano Island, Washington. He was charged with the thefts of small aircraft, a boat, and two cars and in the burglaries of at least 100 private residences in various locations around the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Canada. He fled to the Bahamas on July 4, 2010, allegedly in a plane stolen from Bloomington, Indiana. He was indicted on July 6, 2010, by a U.S. Federal Court in Seattle, Washington, on charges of transporting another stolen aircraft in that state. Harris-Moore was arrested in Harbour Island, Bahamas, on July 11, 2010, after police shot out the engine of the boat in which he was attempting to flee. Two days later, he was deported from Nassau, Bahamas, to Miami, Florida, and transferred on July 21 to SeaTac, Washington. On June 17, 2011 Harris-Moore pled guilty to seven felony charges against him, and is scheduled to be sentenced in October.

He became known as the "Barefoot Bandit" by reportedly committing some of his crimes barefoot, once leaving behind 39 chalk footprints and the word "c'ya!". Despite the widely-reported nickname, officials said that he more often wore shoes.

Background

Harris-Moore grew up in his mother's house in Camano Island, Washington. Neighbors said they made several calls to Child Protective Services, believing he was neglected or abused. His father, Gordon Moore, used drugs and was in prison while Colton was a toddler. When Colton was twelve years old, his abusive father walked out after attempting to choke him during an argument at a family barbecue. According to his mother, Pamela Kohler, his stepfather died when he was about seven years old, and from the time Colton was in the first grade, she knew there was "something off about him" – "sort of a disconnection". He wouldn't listen to his teachers, started altercations at school, and would sometimes deliberately break things around the house, Kohler said. According to a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation, Harris-Moore said that his mother drank and became mean, breaking his possessions. He started living in the wild at the age of seven, and would break into vacation homes in the area, stealing blankets, food and water before disappearing into the forest for days. His first conviction for stolen property came at age 12, and by the time he was 13, he had three more. He has been diagnosed with depression, attention deficit disorder and intermittent explosive disorder. Each conviction brought a 10-day stay in a detention center, or community service. His mother once said, "Every time he had anything any good, everyone thought he stole it. What does that do to a kid?" In 2003, police found a neighbor's camcorder in his home. Never before sentenced to more than a month, he fled a three-year sentence by walking out of a halfway house in April 2008.

Suspected offenses

Harris-Moore is suspected of being responsible for approximately 100 thefts in Washington, Idaho, and Canada, including bicycles, automobiles, light aircraft, and speedboats. It is believed that he learned how to fly small planes by reading aircraft manuals, handbooks, watching a "''How to fly a small airplane''" DVD, and playing flight simulator computer games. One plane he stole was a Cessna 182 belonging to KZOK-FM radio personality Bob Rivers, valued at US$150,000. The plane was later recovered from the Yakama Indian Reservation, though it was so badly damaged that it was a total loss. According to local sheriffs, he would often slip into a home just to soak in a hot bath or steal ice cream from the freezer. Initially, he would steal only what he needed for living in the woods as a survivalist. Once, he allegedly used a homeowner's computer and credit card to order bear mace and a pair of US$6,500 night vision goggles.

On May 30 or 31, 2010, police found a handwritten note and US$100 at a veterinary clinic in Raymond, Washington, approximately southwest of Seattle. The note read:

In late June 2010, Colton was suspected of vehicle thefts stretching as far east as Illinois. The trail of suspected thefts attributed to him passes through Idaho, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois. Police found a 2008 white Toyota Sequoia in Norfolk, Nebraska, which was reported stolen in Yankton, South Dakota. Later that day, several burglaries were reported at Karl Stefan Memorial Airport, located south of where the SUV was abandoned. A truck owned by the town of Ottumwa, Iowa was later recovered in Dallas City, Illinois. On July 4, 2010, a Cessna 400 single-engine plane was reported stolen from the Bloomington, Indiana airport – it was later found crashed in the shoreline waters of Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas, again leading to speculation that Harris-Moore was responsible. Shortly afterward, there were several break-ins reported across the island. The Royal Bahamas Police Force placed wanted posters across the island that featured the teenager. One bartender claimed to have spotted him in a sports bar on Tuesday, July 6, 2010, stating that he drank a beer and left after five minutes. He says that Harris-Moore was wearing a cap over his shaved head and was barefoot.

On July 6, 2010, an indictment was released from a federal judge of the U.S. District Court of Western Washington, which was originally filed in December 2009. This indictment cites Harris-Moore for interstate transport of stolen property/airplane theft, related to a plane stolen from Bonners Ferry, Idaho that crashed outside of Granite Falls, Washington. The FBI placed a $10,000 bounty for information leading to his arrest, and federal agents believed that he was responsible for the recent Indiana theft.

Capture

On July 11, 2010, Harris-Moore was captured just before dawn at Harbour Island, Bahamas. Local officers picked up his trail in Eleuthera after recovering a 44 foot (13 meter) power boat stolen from a marina on Great Abaco. A police official said the suspect attempted to flee, but police shot out the engine on his boat. Before being arrested, Harris-Moore threw his portable computer into the water and put a gun to his head, but the police talked him out of killing himself. He told the police that he intended to go to Cuba to throw authorities off his trail and proceed to the Turks and Caicos Islands. His mother had hoped that he would flee to a country that did not have an extradition treaty with the United States.

In March 2011, FBI Special Agent Fred Gutt confirmed the reward fund payout: "The $10,000 bounty money was paid out to people directly involved in (Harris-Moore's) capture." The reward money was split among Jordan Sackett, Capt. Ronald Billiot, Capt. Patrick Young, Capt. Ben Johnson and Kenny Strachan, a security guard at the Romora Bay Resort.

Criminal proceedings

Harris-Moore pleaded guilty on July 13, 2010, to illegal entry to the Bahamas and illegally landing a plane. He was sentenced to three months in jail or a $300 fine. Harris-Moore's mother wired the money to the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, which in turn paid the fine. He was deported the same day via overnight commercial flight, accompanied by Bahamian authorities and United States agents of the FBI to Miami, Florida. On July 14, Harris-Moore appeared before U.S. Magistrate Robert Dube to determine his legal representation, which had been hired on his behalf by his mother.

In a hearing on July 16, 2010, in the U.S. District Court of Southern Florida, Judge Dube ruled that Harris-Moore would be sent to Washington state to face charges there first because he was arrested under their warrant. Harris-Moore waived his right to an extradition hearing. He was held at the Federal Detention Center in Miami until July 21, when he was transferred by the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System to the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac, Washington. He was required to wear handcuffs and leg irons while being transported to Washington. A federal judge at the U.S. District Court of Western Washington in Seattle set a November 15 deadline for prosecutors to have Harris-Moore formally indicted by a federal grand jury. However, Harris-Moore waived his right to a speedy trial, permitting both the defense and the prosecution more time to prepare for the case. On November 18, 2010, Harris-Moore pleaded not guilty in federal court to charges of interstate transportation of a stolen plane, boat and gun, and of being a fugitive in possession of a firearm and of flying a plane without a pilot's license.

On September 30, 2010, Harley Davidson Ironwing, a self-described associate of Harris-Moore's burglaries, pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

On 17th June 2011 Federal prosecutors recommended that Harris-Moore be sentenced to 6 years in prison. Harris-Moore pleaded guilty to all 7 counts on the Federal indictment. The Washington State Court, however, has recommended that he be sentenced to 10 years in prison for a break-in and burglary near Granite Falls, Washington..

Notoriety

Harris-Moore became known as the "Barefoot Bandit" or as the "Barefoot Burglar", by reportedly committing some of his crimes while barefoot. In Fall 2009, police found footprints at an airport hangar in Bonners Ferry, Idaho; a Cessna 182 stolen from there crash-landed approximately to the west near Granite Falls, Washington after a few unsuccessful attempts to land at the small airport there. Police in the San Juan Islands also found cartoonish, chalk-outlines of feet drawn upon the floor of a grocery store that was broken into in February 2010. Harris-Moore became an internet sensation with a Facebook fan page set up by Zack Sestak drawing about 20,000 members. Sestak stated that Harris-Moore is "the right criminal at the right time." A local Seattle man started selling T-shirts bearing Harris-Moore's picture with the words, "Momma Tried." Local people from Camano Island also attempted to vent their frustrations through a song, as well as a blog which included the sale of merchandise and accepted donations to purchase the services of a bounty hunter. In April 2010, 20th Century Fox purchased the film rights to the book ''Taking Flight: The Hunt for a Young Outlaw'', based on a proposal by Bob Friel. Harris-Moore's mother has retained celebrity lawyer O. Yale Lewis to seek control of entertainment interests related to her son. She has also hired John Henry Browne to handle her son's criminal defense.. Under a plea deal, Harris-Moore agreed to forfeit any profits from selling publishing rights to his story.

References

External links

Forensic Psychological Evaluation: Colton Harris-Moore – Denton W. Young, Ph.D. (June 15, 2007)

Letter from Pamela A. Kohler, mother of Colton Harris-Moore – filed with Island County, Washington Court (June 27, 2007)

Letter from Sandra E. Puttnam, aunt of Colton Harris-Moore – filed with Island County, Washington Court (June 27, 2007)

Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:American burglars Category:American escapees Category:American outlaws Category:American prisoners and detainees Category:Deported people Category:Fugitives wanted by Canada Category:People convicted of theft Category:People from Island County, Washington Category:Prisoners and detainees of the United States federal government

de:Colton Harris-Moore it:Colton Harris-Moore fi:Colton Harris-Moore uk:Колтон Гарріс-Мур vi:Colton Harris-Moore zh:哈里斯·摩爾

name	Prince Harry of Wales
imgw	220
full name	Henry Charles Albert David|groupfn|namesur}}

| styles = ''HRH'' Prince Henry of Wales | house = House of Windsor | father = Charles, Prince of Wales | mother = Diana, Princess of Wales | birth_date = September 15, 1984 | birth_place = St Mary's Hospital, London | place of christening = St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle |}}

Prince Henry of Wales (Henry Charles Albert David; born 15 September 1984), commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and fourth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. As such, he is third in the line of succession (behind his father and elder brother) to the thrones of sixteen independent sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. Consequently, he is also third in line, again behind his father and elder brother, to the position Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

After an education at various schools around the United Kingdom and spending parts of his gap year in Australia and Lesotho, Harry, unlike his elder brother, Prince William, eschewed a university education in favour of following in the footsteps of various royal men by enrolling in the military. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry Regiment—serving temporarily with his brother—and completed his training as a tank commander. He served for 77 days on the front line in the Afghan War, although he was pulled out following publication of the story in an Australian magazine.

Early life

Harry was born at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, England, on 15 September 1984, weighing 6 lb 15oz. He was baptised at St George's Chapel, in Windsor Castle, by then Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie. Harry's godparents were Prince Andrew (his paternal uncle); Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones (his paternal cousin); Lady Vestey; Mrs. William Bartholomew; Bryan Organ; and Gerald Ward.

Persistent suggestions, based on a similarity of hair colour, have been made that Harry's father is not Charles but James Hewitt, with whom Diana had an affair. However, red hair is known to be a Spencer family trait, and Hewitt stated to the press in 2002 that Harry had already been born by the time his affair with Diana began, a statement corroborated by Diana's police bodyguard.

There really is no possibility whatsoever that I am Harry's father. I can absolutely assure you that I am not...I can understand the interest but Harry was already walking by the time my relationship with Diana began. Admittedly the red hair is similar to mine and people say we look alike. I have never encouraged these comparisons and although I was with Diana for a long time I must state once and for all that I'm not Harry's father. - ''James Hewitt''

Diana wanted William and Harry to have a broader range of experiences than previous royal children and took both to venues that ranged from Disney World and McDonald's to AIDS clinics and shelters for the homeless. Diana, Princess of Wales, who was by then divorced from the Prince of Wales, died in a car collision in 1997. Harry, his brother and their father were staying at Balmoral Castle at the time, and the Prince of Wales waited until early the following morning to tell his sons about their mother's death. At his mother's funeral, Harry accompanied his father, brother, paternal grandfather, and maternal uncle in walking behind the funeral cortège from Kensington Palace to Westminster Abbey.

Education

Like his father and elder brother, Harry was educated at public schools, starting at Jane Mynors' nursery school and the pre-preparatory Wetherby School, both in London. Following this, he attended Ludgrove School, and, after passing the entrance exams, was admitted to Eton College, where he studied geography, art history, and art at A-Level. The decision to place Harry in Eton went against the family tradition of sending royal children to Gordonstoun (Harry's grandfather, father, two uncles, and two cousins all attended); it did, however, make the Prince follow in the Spencer family footsteps, as both Diana's father and brother had attended Eton. In June 2003, he completed his education at Eton with two A-Levels, obtaining a B in art, and a D in geography, having decided to drop history of art after AS level. He excelled in sports, particularly polo and rugby union. .

After graduation, Harry took a gap year, during which he spent time in Australia, working (as his father had done in his youth) 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'' and holidayed in Argentina.

Royal duties and career

Prince Harry began to accompany his parents on official visits at an early age; his first overseas royal tour was with his parents to Italy in 1985. The earlier decision made by the Princess of Wales to take an infant William to Australia set the precedent for young royal children going on official visits. Harry then accompanied either both parents or his father on subsequent tours, though he did not begin solo official engagements until after his military training and active service. In August 1995, at the age of 10, Prince Harry attended the 50th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day at the Cenotaph in London. There he saluted the officers in the military parade, one of the most important ceremonies in the royal family agenda. In 2008, he began to undertake royal visits to schools and organisations in Wales.

Military career

Prince Harry entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 8 May 2005, where he was known as Officer Cadet Wales, and joined the Alamein Company. Within a year, in April 2006, Harry completed his officer's training and was commissioned as a Cornet in the Blues and Royals, a regiment of the Household Cavalry in the British Army. By April 2008, whereupon he reached two years' seniority, Harry was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

The British Ministry of Defence and Clarence House made a joint announcement on 22 February 2007 that Prince Harry would be deployed with his regiment to the front line in Iraq, to serve as part of the 1st Mechanised Brigade of the 3rd Mechanised Divisiona move supported by Harry, who had stated that he would leave the army if he was told to remain in safety while his regiment went to war; he said: "There's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country." Then head of the British army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, first said on 30 April 2007 that he had personally decided that the Prince would serve with his unit in Iraq, and Harry was scheduled for deployment in May or June 2007, to patrol the Maysan province. By 16 May, however, Dannatt announced that Prince Harry would not serve in Iraq; concerns included Harry being a high-value target (as several threats by various groups have already been made against him) and the dangers the soldiers around him would face should any attempt be made on the Prince's life or capture. Clarence House made public the Prince's disappointment with the decision, though he said he would abide by it. In May 2007, British soldiers in Iraq were reported to be wearing t-shirts bearing the statement "I'm Harry!"; a reference to the scene in the movie ''Spartacus'' in which the survivors of Spartacus's army, defeated by Roman legions, are offered leniency by Crassus if they will identify their leader. Every survivor declares: "I'm Spartacus!"

It was reported, in early June 2007, that Prince Harry had arrived in Canada to train, alongside soldiers of the Canadian Forces and British Army, at Canadian Forces base 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; rumours that were confirmed in February the following year, when the British Ministry of Defence revealed that Harry had secretly been deployed as a Forward Air Controller to Helmand Province in the Asian country. The revelation came after the medianotably, the German newspaper ''Bild'' and Australian magazine ''New Idea'' breached the blackout placed over the information by the Canadian and British authorities. It was later reported that, while in Afghanistan, Harry had called in United States Air Force air strikes, helped Gurkha troops repel an attack from Taliban insurgents, and performed patrol duty in hostile areas. His tour came 735 years after his ancestor, Edward I of England (then Prince Edward), had also been on military duty in the Middle East during the Ninth crusade, and also made Harry the first member of the Royal Family to have served in a war zone since his uncle, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, flew helicopters during the Falklands War; at the time, Andrew was second in line to the thrones of the Commonwealth realms. For his service, Prince Harry was decorated with the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan by his aunt, the Princess Royal, at the Combermere Barracks in May 2008.

In October 2008, the news was revealed that Prince Harry was to follow his brother, father, and uncle with the wish to fly military helicopters. After passing the initial aptitude test, he was to undertake a month-long course; depending on whether or not he passed that course he would proceed onto full flight training in early 2009. Harry had to pass his flying assessment at the Army Air Corps Base (AAC), Middle Wallop, the result of which determined if he would pass on to train as a pilot of either the Apache, Lynx, or Gazelle helicopter.

Prince Harry was presented with his flying brevet (wings) by his father, on 7 May 2010 at a ceremony at the Army Air Corps Base (AAC), Middle Wallop. Prince Harry had also let it be known that he intended to fly Apache attack helicopters if he was successful in passing the rigorous Apache training course; after which time it could be possible for him to see active military service once again on the frontline in one of the warzones. During the ceremony, he switched his Blues and Royals' Officer's Service Dress cap for that of the Army Air Corps' sky blue beret with a Blues and Royals badge.

On 10 March 2011, it was revealed that Prince Harry had passed his Apache flying test and he was awarded his Apache Flying Badge on 14 April 2011. There is speculation that he shall return to Afghanistan once again before the withdrawal in 2015. On 16 April 2011 it was announced that Prince Harry had been promoted to the Army rank of Captain after having held the rank of Lieutenant since 2008.

In June 2011, Clarence House announced that Prince Harry on completion of his training conversion course to use Apache helicopters in the war arena would be available for deployment, including in current operations in Afghanistan in his role as an Apache helicopter pilot. The final decision will ultimately rest with the Ministry of Defence's senior commanders including principally the Chief of the Defence Staff in consultation with the wishes of Harry, his father the Prince of Wales and The Queen.

Royal duties

At the age of 23, Prince Harry was appointed as a Counsellor of State, and began his royal duties by first serving in that capacity when the Queen was abroad to attend the 2005 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta. The following year, Harry was in Lesotho to visit again Mants'ase Children's Home near Mohale's Hoek (which he first toured in 2004), and along with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho launched Sentebale: The Princes' Fund for Lesotho, a charity to aid children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. He has also granted his patronage to a number of other organisations, including WellChild, Dolen Cymru, and MapAction. To aid Sentebale, as well as the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and Centrepoint, Harry and his brother organised the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium, on 1 July 2007.

Sports have also been a way that Harry has helped charities and other organisations, such as when he trained as a Rugby Development Officer for the Rugby Football Union in 2004 and then coached students in schools in order to encourage them to learn the sport. He has also participated in polo matches, like his brother and father, in order to raise money for charitable causes.

On 6 January 2009, Harry and his brother Prince William were granted their own royal household by their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. It has three main staff members, supported by a "small" team. Sir David Manning, the former British ambassador to Washington, will work as a part-time adviser to the princes. Previously, William and Harry's affairs had been handled by the office of their father at Clarence House in central London. The brothers' new household released a statement complete with their own cyphers at the top announcing that they have established their own office at nearby St. James's Palace to look after their public, military and charitable activities. Harry's cypher is similar to his brother's, but displays an ''H'' in a shade of blue similar to that used by his mother.

Personal life and relationships

Prince Harry has spent much of his free time in sporting activities, playing competitive polo, as well as skiing and motocross. Harry also earned a reputation in his youth for being rebellious, leading the tabloid press to label him as a "wild child". He was found at age 17 smoking cannabis and partaking in under-age drinking with his friends, would clash physically with paparazzi outside nightclubs, and was photographed at Highgrove House at a "Colonial and Native" themed costume party wearing a Nazi German Afrika Korps uniform with a swastika armband. He later issued a public statement apologizing for his behaviour.

Prince Harry is a supporter of Arsenal Football Club.

In January 2009, the British tabloid ''News of the World'' revealed a video made by Harry three years previously, in which he referred to a Pakistani fellow officer cadet as "our little Paki friend" and later called a soldier wearing a cloth on his head a "raghead". These terms were described by David Cameron as "unacceptable", and by ''The Daily Telegraph'' as "racist", and a British Muslim youth organisation called the Prince a "thug", a statement that was later retracted. Clarence House immediately issued an apology from Harry, who stated that no malice was intended in his remarks. A former British MP and Royal Marine, Rod Richards, said that such nicknames were common amongst military comrades, stating "in the Armed Forces people often used to call me Taffy. Others were called Yankie, Oz or Kiwi or whatever. I consider Paki as an abbreviation for Pakistani. I don't think on this occasion it was intended to be offensive." It later emerged that Prince Harry had personally apologised to the soldier.

While Harry's personal relationships have not been followed as much as those of his brother, most media attention has been focused on his relationship with Chelsy Davy. In an interview conducted for his 21st birthday, Harry referred to Davy as his girlfriend, and the press reported at that time that the couple had been together for 18 months, contradicting earlier reports that they were no longer together. Harry and Davy were also seen together publicly at the Concert for Diana. Chelsy also accompanied Harry to the wedding of Harry's cousin, Peter Phillips to Autumn Kelly in May 2008, where she was introduced to the Queen for the first time. But, in early 2009 it was reported in the media that the pair had parted ways. Later that year the pair was photographed together at a rugby match, seemingly going public again with their relationship.As of 2010, Harry and Davy are no longer together following Davy's departure from England. In 2011, Harry confirmed the rumors by proclaiming himself "100% single."

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

name	Prince Henry of Wales
dipstyle	His Royal Highness
offstyle	Your Royal Highness
altstyle	Sir }}

15 September 1984: ''His Royal Highness'' Prince Henry of Wales

The Prince's style and title in full is ''His Royal Highness Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales''. As a British prince, Harry holds no surname; however, as with the other male-line grandchildren of Elizabeth II, he uses the name of the area over which his father holds title, i.e. ''Wales''. Past precedent is that such surnames are dropped from usage in adulthood, after which either title alone, or Mountbatten-Windsor is used when necessary. Prince Harry, however, continues to use Wales as his surname for military purposes and is known as Captain Harry Wales in such contexts. If his father succeeds to the throne he will be known as ''His Royal Highness'' The Prince Henry. Traditionally, male-line members of British royalty receive a dukedom a few hours before their marriage, the most recent being Prince William of Wales, who became Duke of Cambridge.

Military ranks

13 April 2006 13 April 2008: Cornet (Second Lieutenant), The Blues and Royals 13 April 2008 16 April 2011: Lieutenant, The Blues and Royals 16 April 2011present: Captain, The Blues and Royals attached to Army Air Corps

Honours

;Medals 30px 5 May 2008: Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan

Honorary military appointments

; Canada 10 November 2009: Canadian Ranger

; United Kingdom 3 October 2008: Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington 8 August 2006: Commodore-in-Chief of Small Ships and Diving

Arms

Notes	On his 18th birthday, Prince Harry was granted his own personal coat of arms, consisting of the arms of the sovereign in right of the United Kingdom with a label for difference.
Year adopted	15 September 2002
Escutcheon	Quarterly 1st and 4th gules three lions passant guardant in pale or armed and langed azure 2nd or a lion rampant gules armed and langued azure within a double tressure flory counterflory of the second 3rd azure a harp or stringed argent
Other elements	The whole differenced by a Label of five points Argent the first, third and fifth points charged with an Escallop Gules
Symbolism	As the grandchild of the sovereign, Prince Harry's coat of arms has a label of five points. The ''escallops'' (seashells) allude to his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, whose Spencer coat of arms includes three ''escallops argent''.
Previous versions	}}

Ancestry

{{ahnentafel-compact5 |style=font-size: 90%; line-height: 110%; |border=1 |boxstyle=padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; |boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc; |boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9; |boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc; |boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc; |boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe; |1= 1. Prince Harry of Wales |2= 2. Charles, Prince of Wales |3= 3. Lady Diana Frances Spencer |4= 4. Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark |5= 5. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom |6= 6. John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer |7= 7. Frances Ruth Burke Roche |8= 8. Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark |9= 9. Princess Alice of Battenberg |10= 10. King George VI of the United Kingdom |11= 11. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon |12= 12. Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer |13= 13. Cynthia Elinor Hamilton |14= 14. Maurice Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy |15= 15. Ruth Sylvia Gill |16= 16. King George I of Greece |17= 17. Grand Duchess Olga Constantinovna of Russia |18= 18. Prince Louis of Battenberg |19= 19. Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine |20= 20. King George V of the United Kingdom |21= 21. Mary of Teck |22= 22. Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne |23= 23. Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck |24= 24. Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer |25= 25. Margaret Baring |26= 26. James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn |27= 27. Rosalind Cecilia Bingham |28= 28. James Roche, 3rd Baron Fermoy |29= 29. Frances Work |30= 30. William Smith Gill |31= 31. Ruth Littlejohn }}

Through his paternal grandfather, Prince Harry is descended from King Henry IV, King Charles II and King James II and VII. Through his mother, Harry is of English descent and of remote Irish and Scottish descent.

Prince Harry is descended from the kings and queens of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom with surviving offspring from William I. He is also descended from many of the pre-Union monarchs of Scotland and the pre-Conquest monarchs of England.

See also

British prince

British Royal Family

Canadian Royal Family

Line of succession to the British Throne

Genealogy of the British Royal Family

Notes

References

External links

Prince Harry's eulogy to Princess Diana delivered on 31 August 2007

Prince Harry's interview with NBC's Matt Lauer

Royal.gov.uk – Prince Harry

Prince Harry at His Hottest – slideshow by ''Life magazine''

Personal Profile – Prince Harry – From Prince of Wales official Site

Illustrated biography of Prince Harry

Prince Harry Not Going to Iraq on Time.com (a division of Time Magazine)

Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:Blues and Royals officers Category:British Army Air Corps officers Category:English Anglicans Category:House of Windsor Category:Mountbatten-Windsor family Category:Old Etonians Category:Old Ludgrovians Category:People from Paddington Category:Princes of the United Kingdom Category:Sandhurst graduates Category:British Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) Category:Helicopter pilots Category:People educated at Wetherby School

ar:الأمير هنري bcl:Prinsipe Harry bg:Хенри, принц на Уелс ca:Enric de Gal·les cs:Princ Harry cy:Y Tywysog Harri da:Prins Henry af Wales de:Henry Mountbatten-Windsor et:Henry Mountbatten-Windsor es:Enrique de Gales eo:Henry Mountbatten-Windsor fa:شاهزاده هری ولز fr:Henry de Galles ga:Harry, prionsa na Breataine Bige ko:웨일스 공자 해리 hy:Արքայազն Հարրի hr:Harry, princ Walesa id:Pangeran Henry dari Wales it:Henry del Galles he:הנסיך הארי מוויילס lv:Princis Harijs lt:Princas Henris hu:Henrik brit királyi herceg ms:Putera Harry dari Wales mn:Уэльсийн хунтайж Харри nl:Henry van Wales ja:ヘンリー・オブ・ウェールズ no:Henry av Wales nn:Harry av Wales pnb:ہنری ماؤنٹبیٹن-ونڈسر pl:Henryk z Walii pt:Henrique de Gales ro:Prințul Henry de Wales ru:Принц Гарри Уэльский simple:Prince Harry of Wales fi:Prinssi Harry sv:Prins Henry av Wales tl:Prinsipe Henry ng Wales th:สมเด็จเจ้าฟ้าชายแฮร์รีแห่งเวลส์ tr:Prens Henry (Galler) uk:Принц Гарі Уельський zh:哈利王子 (威尔士)