New Zealand was a trial run. You can be sure Tourism NZ offered all manner of action events for him. Yet deliberately there was nothing frivolous such as jetboating or bungee jumping. Instead he met the wildlife, went to a church service, was briefed on the earthquake rebuilding and got in some cultural lessons. His most risque encounter was the pub quiz on Stewart Island.
In contrast, Prince William and Catherine's visit featured America's Cup yacht races and jetboat racing.
While in New Zealand, Harry did a reflective interview with Sky News. Much of the attention went on the bit where he talked about settling down and having children one day. But he also talked about his reputation, saying he had never wanted to be the "party prince" and making it clear he was determined to win people's respect.
He did that job well here, earning the highest compliments New Zealanders can give of being "ordinary" and "down to earth". The only time he almost faltered was turning down the offer of a Bluff oyster, the elixir of the South. Whether this was because he was wary of its reputed aphrodisiac effects, an allergy, the lack of a royal taster (instead he used the Sun newspaper's photographer), or simply a dislike of oysters, who knew?
To Harry and William falls the role of bolstering the monarchy in the remaining Commonwealth countries that have not moved to republicanism. Royal visits used to be few and far between. These days they seem to pop up constantly, aided by easy long-haul travel.
If a change to the flag is still too much to stomach here, republicanism seems a long way off indeed. And William and Harry are helping to see it off.
The response in New Zealand will have delighted the royal family. For all our lofty talk of being an independent nation, are we ever so "colonial" as when royalty visits?
Logically, Harry should be even less relevant than Prince Charles because it is highly unlikely he will ever be king.
Yet out New Zealanders went in great numbers, waving their flags as if this was the 1950s. There to meet Harry were people who collect royal greetings like coins. There is some self-awareness about this but no shame. One woman in Christchurch described herself as "a royal tragic".
There are no eggs hurled these days, no hollering of "Shame" at the royals. On this tour, the only protest signs were those of the ubiquitous Trans Pacific Partnership demonstrators. And they were turned on by some in the crowd for gate-crashing "Harry's day".
Our sense of egalitarianism is apparently suspended in honour of our guest.
This could be because New Zealand is more confident and the Treaty settlements are well along. Or it could be because of the goodwill towards William and Harry, goodwill that has continued since the death of Diana and which William at least did a lot to foster with his visits after the Christchurch earthquake.
But when Harry leaves on Saturday, Auckland's house prices won't have dropped, Ngapuhi still won't have resolved its settlement dispute and Finance Minister Bill English will be preparing to deliver his seventh deficit.
Those who are simply hibernating and wishing it was over can take solace from knowing that at least Harry is cheaper to host than his brother. His entourage is a streamlined affair without the hairdressers, nannies and grooming brigade who prepare Catherine and Baby George.
