The Duke of Sussex has issued a statement after he carried out his final visit of his trip by meeting those involved with the Diana Award, which was set up in the late Princess Diana’s honour.
Prince Harry concluded his UK visit with a poignant tribute to his late mother, following a much-anticipated reunion with his father, King Charles.
The Duke of Sussex marked the end of his journey back home by engaging with individuals associated with the Diana Award, established in honour of the late Princess Diana.
On Thursday morning, Harry visited the Diana Award’s central London office to engage with youths and discuss the positive effects of social action on mental health. The duke dedicated roughly an hour to converse with young innovators and partake in a panel discussion hosted by the charity commemorating his mother, before leaving at approximately 11:18 am.
There, he was touched by heartfelt accounts of the challenges faced by young people navigating the complexities of social media today. Although Prince William also champions the Diana Award, the brothers did not cross paths during Harry’s return to the UK.
During this morning’s event, Harry engaged with 40 youngsters following a panel featuring Lottie Leach, Elsa Arnold, and Idorenyin Hope Akpan, presided over by Dan Lawes, a past recipient of the charity’s Legacy Award, reports the Mirror.
In a statement afterwards, Harry expressed: “Getting involved in peaceful social action takes courage and determination. Young people see the issues society faces close up – whether that’s poor mental health or the consequences of inequalities.
“But you don’t stand still; your empathy and compassion drive you to make change. Purpose combined with action can help overcome a sense of hopelessness, and that’s exactly what you’ve shown today.
“When you spoke about how taking action gave you purpose, confidence and joy, it was more powerful than any statistic. It reminded me that agency is not a luxury for young people, it is a lifeline.
“My mother believed in the power and agency of young people to positively impact the world. The Diana Award continues her legacy by putting young people at the heart of everything they do. Today is a perfect example of that. My message to everyone is don’t stand still, don’t stay silent – make them hear you because you speak for the majority.”
Throughout the event, Harry maintained an upbeat demeanour but also adopted a thoughtful tone when addressing the youngsters present.
From his seat, he delivered a brief spontaneous speech to the panel, expressing: “Thank you all for being here. I don’t know how you were as individuals, all of you… five, ten years ago pre-Diana Award, but to see you sitting up here now with the confidence you have, speaking to a complete group of strangers is proof of the fact this whole thing works.”
He further added: “You talk about the mental health piece that is woven through so much of this and it is, it’s emotional… it’s mental and emotional wellbeing.
“In every single Diana Awardee, in every single young person and middle-aged person and probably old people as well, our mental health and our emotional health through our nervous system is being tested every single day.
“And this proven model of being engaged with or finding your purpose with social action, it really does work. You guys are testament to that. Otherwise you’re sitting there feeling hopeless.
“You have the hope. My point is that if you’re a young person it can sometimes feel as though you’re lost and separated from a group and you feel isolated. But I can assure you that there’s nothing wrong with you.”
The previous evening, Harry had his first in-person encounter with his father the King in nearly 20 months. The duo’s much-anticipated reunion, which spanned merely 55 minutes, follows Harry’s public declaration in May expressing his desire for family reconciliation.
Following their meeting, Harry seemed at ease, appearing cheerful and positive at an Invictus reception in the City of London on Wednesday evening, just over an hour after departing Clarence House where he and the King enjoyed a private afternoon tea.
When questioned about his father’s wellbeing by a journalist shortly after his arrival at the Invictus reception, Harry responded: “Yes, he’s great, thank you.”
The Duke of Sussex’s representative indicated the UK trip had been successful: “He’s obviously loved being back in the UK, catching up with old friends, colleagues and just generally being able to support the incredible work of the causes that mean so much to him.”
The duke, who is marking his 41st birthday on Monday, isn’t expected to attend the Duchess of Kent’s funeral at Westminster Cathedral in London on Tuesday. The King, Queen and other high-ranking members of the Royal family will be present at the funeral.
Rumours of a potential reunion between father and son were rife yesterday when it was revealed that both Harry and the King would be in London simultaneously.
Charles returned to the capital from Balmoral, where he had spent the summer, and was spotted arriving at Clarence House around 4pm in a car after flying from Aberdeen to RAF Northolt.
Harry made his appearance over an hour later at 5.20pm, having informed fans seeking selfies as he departed Imperial College London around 3pm that he was running behind schedule.
The Duke of Sussex exited Clarence House just before 6.15pm and ducked down inside his vehicle as he was chauffeured to the nearby Gherkin. There, he announced the new CEO of the Invictus Games Foundation and delivered a speech to supporters.
The King forgoes lunch daily, but pauses for afternoon tea around 5pm, enjoying sandwiches and cakes, along with his preferred Darjeeling tea sweetened with honey and milk.
Harry last met with the King in February of the previous year when he made a swift journey from his home in California to the UK to visit Charles following his cancer diagnosis. Their prior meeting occurred less than 24 hours after the announcement about the King’s health and was without Meghan and their children.
The in-person meeting in February 2024 seemed to last just over half an hour, with the most recent encounter also being less than an hour long before the duke’s evening commitment.
The duke, who withdrew from active Royal duties in 2020, has launched a series of allegations against the King, his stepmother the Queen, his brother the Prince of Wales and sister-in-law the Princess of Wales. These accusations have been made through various platforms including his Oprah interview, Netflix documentary, other interviews and his autobiography, Spare, since relocating to the US.
Harry continues to be estranged from his brother, William, who has been preoccupied with numerous engagements this week. On Wednesday, he was in Cardiff visiting a new mental health centre on World Suicide Prevention Day.