Prince Harry is about to celebrate two huge milestones in September. He’ll be turning 30 years old and he’ll be launching his brainchild (which he stole from the Americans!), the Invictus Games. Both events will be happening all at once! He seems more focused on getting the Invictus Games – which is his version of the USA’s Warrior Games – to work, and he’s been doing advanced promotion for the games. He told the BBC that he was “happy to steal off the Americans” and “The Americans have had the Warrior Games for the last four and a half, five years. They have the Navy against the RAF against the Army. We went over there, had a team of 30 U.K. guys that joined in with the Americans and basically saw this event take place and decided that it was such a wonderful concept that we should steal it, make it bigger, make it better and bring it back home.” He also told the BBC that the Invictus Games are his “full-time job at the moment” and “It’s been a real struggle, actually.”

I’m sure that the Invictus Games will go smoothly and I’m sure Harry has been very hands-on. But once the games are over, Harry will be something of a Miss Lonelyhearts within the royal family. Most British royals (male and female) are married by the age of 30. So, the UK papers are giving him the Jennifer Aniston Treatment, which I think is rather funny. The Daily Mail had an epic story about Harry has been dumped by both of the great loves of his life (Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas) and he’s “jealous” of William’s family life. You can read the full piece here, and here are some highlights:

As his 30th birthday rapidly approaches next month, Prince Harry stands at the precipice, gazing into the future, alone. He badly feels the lack of someone special to share the many years ahead of him. His best friends are all married and, without a partner, he is left having to attend so-called ‘three-hander’ events with his brother William and his wife Kate — such as last week’s trip to Scotland for the Commonwealth Games.

The protracted split from his girlfriend of two years, Cressida Bonas, is finally complete. Even though the first cracks in the relationship appeared back in April, lengthy periods of separation failed to extinguish Harry’s deep longing to be with her — he is said to be very needy — and the end was painfully lingering. Their parting has been more hurtful and difficult than has been portrayed. Friends report that the Leeds University-educated actress, a grand-daughter of the 6th Earl Howe, was inundated almost hourly with texts and phone messages from Harry ‘to the point where it became almost unbearable. He would be petulant and sulky, demanding she come round to see him all the time.’ Others who know the prince well have described his actions as ‘a bit suffocating’.

Cressida, only 25 (and young for her age, according to friends) is said to have wilted at the onslaught. A friend explains: ‘She sees her future as an actress and she felt her ambitions would have been trampled by the royal machine. The decision not to continue the relationship came from her, not Harry. The time had come for someone to make the break, and she could not see a long-term future with him. Harry was still very keen, but he appreciates her position and they have kept in touch — as friends.’

…But the hurt Harry felt at Chelsy Davy’s loss remains, say friends. It must be hard to see his brother happily married, with a young son. The idea of being a single, playboy prince for the rest of his days is not a fate such a very emotionally clingy man finds attractive.

[From The Daily Mail]

The Daily Mail also says that Harry’s military career has stalled in a way he didn’t foresee – he thought he would be sent on another tour in Afghanistan perhaps, or somewhere else to fly helicopters. Not so much. The Mail says that decision came from his military commanders too – they want him grounded and raising money for military charities. As for Cressida dumping Harry for being too needy… I don’t know. That’s not the way I read their breakup at all. But I do appreciate the equal-opportunity event in trying to portray Harry in the same way most women are portrayed. Prince Lonelyhearts. Prince Waiting-For-the-Ring.

Photos courtesy of WENN.