During a run of high profile appearances in New York without Meghan Markle, Prince Harry has spoken candidly about his late mother Princess Diana.
The Duke of Sussex talked about the Diana Award, named in memory of his late mother Princess Diana, at the Concordia Summit in New York. The charity is the only one set up in Diana’s name and was launched 25 years ago to honour young people who want to change the world.
In conversation with its CEO Dr Tessy Ojo, Harry was also joined by two former Diana Award winners Christina Williams and Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang. They talked about the mental health crisis engulfing young people as Harry took to the stage. As reported by the Mirror, the duke smiled as walked to his seat while holding a microphone.
Dr Ojo said: “The Diana award is a living legacy to Diana, Princess of Wales, and usually when I talk about this, I have to try and tell you what who we are, and maybe tell you who Princess Diana is. But today I don’t have to do that, because I’m thrilled to be joined today by her son, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex.”
She added: “I’m very grateful to have the Duke of Sussex with us. He is a passionate advocate for mental health. He actually said to me as we came in that actually we should no longer talk about mental health but we should talk about mental fitness. His dedication to this cause strengthens our mission.”
Harry, who was wearing a gold, square Diana Award badge on the lapel of his dark suit, asked the two Diana Legacy Award winners taking part what “worries you the most about the world today?” and “what are the biggest barriers to young people reaching their full potential?” During the question and answer session, he also asked quizzed them on how poor mental health had impacted them and their peers.
Christina, 27, from Jamaica told the duke: “Scared children cannot dream, Prince Harry.” Harry said of mental health: “It affects every single one of us, from the top to bottom, from the youngest to the oldest. And I think you guys are you’re leading the charge in hopefully being able to break down the stigma to be able to continue these conversations.”
Talking about his mother, Harry said she would be proud of the award as well as the two winners of the prize, who spoke about the issues facing young people today. The duke added: “I know that my mum would be incredibly proud of you guys, not just you, but all of the winners, and, Tessy – you’ve been in this for a very long time so thank you for that as well. But the way that you do it, your activism, your compassion, those two things are so true to how my mom led her life and what she believed in. And the way that you do it is incredible. So thank you.”
The Duke of Sussex also called on governments to bring young people into decision making policy. “Surely one of the solutions here is for governments to implement, or at least find people young people like yourselves, and bring them into decision making, policy-making situations before the problems exist,” Harry said.
He added: “That is where the difference is going to be made. And why is that not happening?” Harry repeatedly adjusted his suit and tie and shifted in his chair as he sat on the stage.
Meanwhile, when asked what gives him hope for the future he said: “I have said it before years ago and I’ll say it again. The younger generation is what gives me hope. The courage you have gives me hope. Everyone of us needs courage to move the dial in this world, probably more than ever. We need to listen and act on what you say because it is your future that will be stolen and that is unacceptable.”
Harry is on a solo trip to the Big Apple, where he is due to speak at several high-profile events that coincide with the United Nations General Assembly this week. On arriving in the city, he last night joined a dinner hosted by the World Health Organisation.
There Harry was seen rubbing shoulders with the likes of Queen Mathilde of Belgium and the Hollywood actor Forest Whittaker at the event to honour survivors of childhood violence. The dinner comes just hours after Harry was forced to make a solo appearance at a charity event on Friday, with Meghan noticeably absent.
Harry appeared alone at the charity event organised by Kevin Costner honouring first responders and presented an award to a fellow helicopter pilot. Harry attended the event last year, with many hoping his wife Meghan would join him for the 2024 event – the same as the previous year. However, a source at the event mysteriously said: “We were all hoping Meghan would attend like she did last year but the word is that she is sick and could not make it.”
During Harry’s stay in New York this week, he is set to appear at several major events. Harry is championing causes close to his heart and those associated with Diana, Princess of Wales . Later today he will make an appearance for the Halo Trust, the landmine clearance charity supported by Diana, and then a private engagement with conservation group African Parks.
Tomorrow, he will appear at the 2024 Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting. The Foundation was founded by former US president Bill Clinton and supported by his wife former US Secretary of state Hilary Clinton and their daughter Chelsea, with the theme of this year’s gathering of political, business and philanthropic leaders called “What’s Working”.
During his appearance at the meeting, Harry plans to discuss the launch of The Archewell Foundation Parents’ Network, an initiative supporting parents whose children have suffered or died due to online harm. He will also address his nonprofit’s collaboration with the World Health Organization and others to end violence against children, an issue he and his wife Meghan outlined on their recent trip to Colombia.
However, one person Harry won’t be seeing in New York is his older brother, Prince William. Harry’s trip will also overlap with the 2024 Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, scheduled for Tuesday.
The Earthshot Prize is one of William’s key areas of work, and last year he was in New York for the 2023 summit. It led to speculation that the feuding brothers could awkwardly be in New York at the same time next month. But it has since emerged William is not travelling to the Big Apple later this month and had never planned to.
William did attend the summit in 2023 but his appearance at it in 2022 had to be cancelled as it came during a period of royal mourning after the death and funeral of the late Queen – although he did send a video message.
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