With Sweden’s Prince Carl-Philip’s plans to marry in June, I think we can officially say that Prince Harry is the hottest royal bachelor in the world at this moment. Right? These are photos of Harry out and about today in London, announcing a new project with Walking with the Wounded (more on that in a second). Harry looks long and lean here, but I’ve always liked him in jeans and casual clothes. While he’ll never have the sparkle and debonair charm of someone like John F. Kennedy Jr., Harry still has something, you know? Hot bachelor is hot.

As for the new Walking with the Wounded Challenge, it sounds like a good one. They’re not going to some far-flung place to freeze their nards off. Harry and five wounded warriors are going to do a 1,000 mile walk/hike around Great Britain, from Balmoral (Scotland) to London. This will be going down August 22 to October 31). At the announcement event today, Harry also spoke about his choice to step down from his military post:

In a speech at London’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel, he said that as he made his own transition to civilian life he was “determined to do all I can to help others”. Harry, 30, said: “The public’s support for our Armed Forces continues to be extraordinary. However, as the memory of our military commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan fade, we must encourage people to continue supporting our servicemen and women; particularly those who are seeking to transition into civilian life. This process can be challenging, as it is for anyone seeking a new career. As I make this transition myself, I’m determined to do all I can to help others.”

Harry met the team and asked several questions about their injuries and care, even apologising for bombarding them with so many questions because he’s been “learning about it and how it all works”.

Harry said: “Walk of Britain will cover all parts of the country. Walking through the communities in which our service personnel and veterans grew up and now live. In doing so, Walk of Britain will give everyone the opportunity to meet these remarkable men and women. People up and down the country will get to see first-hand the determination and resolve of those who have served, and in particular those who have been injured or suffer hidden wounds. They will see that whatever their circumstances these men and women are looking to the future. They are looking to employers to give them the chance to keep making a contribution to our communities.”

[From Express]

Wow. God, he’s grown up to be such a lovely man, hasn’t he? And his “gap year” is filling up really, really quickly. Harry has been thinking about leaving his military post for a while, it seems, and has organized a busy schedule for the next few years. He’s going to complete his military service by spending a month with the Australian Defense Force (in April & May), then doing appearances with his dad in Australia and New Zealand. Then Harry is going to sub-Saharan Africa for the summer to volunteer. Then he’s doing the Walk of Britain. Then he’s going back to the Ministry of Defense on a voluntary basis, likely to organize the second Invictus Games. Busy, busy, busy.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.