[1][2] His mother was a feminist and writer, while his father was a businessman who succeeded as the 2nd Baronet Harris, of Bethnal Green, County of London, in 1952.
[5] On 24 April 1957, he married Anna Karen de Malmanche, and the couple went on to have three children.
[7] Harris was a long-time member of the National Party,[8] and was in charge of Stephen Franks' unsuccessful campaign for the Wellington Central at the 2008 general election.
[8] He was active as a yachtsman, and was a member of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club.
[10] In 2023, his son, Andrew Frederick Ashford Harris, proved succession to the baronetcy.