Prince Harry issues fresh statement ahead of 40th birthday as he outlines his life 'mission' - 'I'll continue showing up'

Speaking ahead of his birthday, Harry said: "I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40.

"Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world".

The duke also spoke about the importance of his children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.

He continued to tell the BBC: "Becoming a father of two incredibly kind and funny kids has given me a fresh perspective on life, as well as sharpening my focus in all my work.

"Being a dad is one of life’s greatest joys and has only made me more driven and more committed to making this world a better place."

His statement ended on a positive note: “Bring on the next decade.”

The past 10 years have been a turbulent time for Prince Harry filled with significant change.

He turned 30 in 2014, after returning from his second tour with the British army in Afghanistan.

He previously revealed in his memoir he had been "going through a bad moment" after he returned, suffering periods of lethargy and "terrifying panic attacks".

Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games the year he turned 30, which he has previously said was his response to the shock of seeing casualties in the war and his feeling that the public was not fully aware of the reality of the conflict.

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Also a few months before he turned 30, he and his then-girlfriend Cressida Bonas split up.

Prince Harry - who is fifth in line to the throne - met Meghan in 2016 and moved from the UK to California in 2020 leaving behind his life as a working royal.

The Invictus Games will return to the UK in 2027 when Birmingham hosts the Games.

"He’s described it to me as his first child. It is a very important thing and he is totally committed," Dominic Reid, the outgoing chief executive of the Invictus Games Foundation told the BBC. "I think it speaks very deeply to the soldier in him."