Yahoo News Prince Harry Celebrates Princess Diana's Activism During Solo Visit to New York City
Prince Harry is in New York for a busy few days of engagements related to his philanthropic endeavors, but the focus of his first full day in the city was clear, as he honored the legacy of his mother, Princess Diana.
This morning, the Duke of Sussex spotlighted the Diana Award, the only charity set up in the memory of Diana, participating in a panel discussion on mental health. Harry appeared alongside Dr. Tessy Ojo, the CEO of the Diana Award, and two winners of the Diana Legacy Award, 27-year-old Christina Williams (from Jamaica) and 18-year-old Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang (from Indonesia). "Princess Diana believed that young people, with the right support, can change the world," Dr. Ojo said in her introduction. The Duke of Sussex, she added, is a "passionate advocate for mental health," and his "dedication to this cause strengthens our mission."
Prince Harry's didn't directly address the audience during the conversation, but rather, asked Williams and Zhang questions about their work and perspective on the world. "Scared children can not dream, Prince Harry," Williams told him at one point, when answering a question about why mental health is so important. Harry praised their work, saying, "I applaud you... I know my mom would be incredibly proud of you guys." He added, "Your activism, your compassion—those two things are so true to how my mom lead her life and what she believed in."
The Duke of Sussex's participation in the Concordia Summit—during which the Diana Award panel took place—was a big draw, and his session was at full capacity (including standing room). "I am grateful to Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, for participating in the 14th iteration of the Concordia Annual Summit," Matthew Swift, Co-founder, President & CEO, Concordia, tells Town & Country. "They showed us that refocusing the conversation on youth empowerment and mental health now will ensure a brighter future for the leaders of tomorrow."
In the afternoon, Harry participated in an event hosted by the HALO Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to clearing landmines, which celebrated Angola's leadership in landmine clearance. He was introduced by James Cowan, the CEO of the HALO Trust, who first spoke about the late Princess Diana. "Princess Diana walked across a cleared, safe path in a minefield in Huambo, Angola and galvanized the world's attention," Cowan said, referencing Princess Diana's visit to Angola in 1997, when she famously walked through an active minefield to raise awareness. "Her advocacy set the stage for the landmine ban treaty and the governments and the private sector to end the scourge of landline contamination. The HALO Trust is thrilled that her son, Prince Harry the Duke of Sussex, is directly carrying on the legacy and the clarion call for landmine clearance." Speaking directly to Harry, Cowan said, "You've been one of our most ardent voices and advocates for mine clearance."
"The HALO Trust work in Angola meant a great deal to my mother," the Duke of Sussex said during his remarks. "Carrying on her legacy is a responsibility that I take incredibly seriously."
Cowan referenced Prince Harry's 2019 visit to Angola, as did the Duke of Sussex himself. "Much has changed in my life and the world since 2019 when I first visited," he said. "In those five years, I've become a father for the second time. And while you don't need children to have a stake in the future of our planet, I do know that my mother would have been horrified that anyone's children or grandchildren would live in a world still infested with mines."
Prince Harry's New York City visit continues tomorrow, where he's scheduled to speak at the Clinton Global Initiative and at the United Nations.
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