Heartfelt Moment: Prince Harry Tears Up Recalling Mum Diana at an Event Without Meghan

Prince Harry recently opened up about his late mother, Princess Diana, during a series of appearances in New York without Meghan Markle. The Duke of Sussex took the stage at the Concordia Summit, where he discussed the Diana Award, which was created 25 years ago to honour young people striving to make a difference. Speaking alongside Dr. Tessy Ojo, the award’s CEO, Harry talked about the charity’s mission, calling it the "only one set up in Diana’s name."

During a conversation with Dr. Ojo, Harry was joined by two former Diana Award recipients, Christina Williams and Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang, to address the growing mental health crisis affecting youth. As part of the Concordia Annual Summit, Harry asked the two award winners questions such as, "What worries you the most about the world today?" and "What are the biggest barriers to young people reaching their full potential?"

He also touched on how poor mental health has impacted young people and their communities.

Christina, 27, from Jamaica, poignantly told Harry, "Scared children cannot dream, Prince Harry." In response, Harry emphasized the universal impact of mental health, stating, "It affects every single one of us, from the top to bottom, from the youngest to the oldest. And I think you guys are leading the charge in hopefully being able to break down the stigma and continue these conversations."

Reflecting on his mother’s legacy, Harry expressed his belief that she would be proud of both the Diana Award and its winners. "I know that my mum would be incredibly proud of you guys, not just you, but all of the winners," he said, adding, "Tessy, you’ve been in this for a very long time so thank you for that as well. 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. The way that you do it is incredible. So thank you."

Harry also called for governments to involve young people in policymaking decisions, stressing, "Surely one of the solutions here is for governments to implement, or at least find young people like yourselves, and bring them into decision-making, policy-making situations before the problems exist." He questioned why such involvement wasn't happening more often, stating, "That is where the difference is going to be made. And why is that not happening?"

On being asked what gives him hope for the future, Harry replied, "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. Every one 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’s solo trip to New York comes as he prepares to speak at several high-profile events coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly. His visit began with a dinner hosted by the World Health Organization.