Harry on carrying on Diana's legacy: 'It's something I take seriously'

by · Mail Online

Prince Harry today said in an emotional speech that 'carrying on Diana's legacy is something he takes very seriously'.

The Duke of Sussex, who recently celebrated his 40th birthday, gave the passionate address to a packed room at Halo Trust's anti-landmine event in New York.  

The charity gained international prominence in 1997 after Princess Diana walked through an active minefield in Angola.

Harry was greeted by a rapturous round of applause as he took to the stage to deliver an eight minute speech in which spoke of the charity's work in Angola meaning a 'great deal' to his late mother. 

Looking solemn faced, he said: 'Carrying on her legacy is a responsibility that I take incredibly seriously. 

Prince Harry, 40, looked solemn faced as he attended the Halo Trust's anti-landmine event in New York
Harry was greeted by a rapturous round of applause as he took to the stage to deliver an eight minute speech in which spoke of the charity's work in Angola meaning a 'great deal' to his late mother Princess Diana
The Halo trust gained international prominence in 1997 after Princess Diana walked through an active minefield in Angola (pictured) 
Prince Harry walks through a minefield during a visit to see the work of landmine clearance charity the Halo Trust, on day five of the royal tour of Africa in 2019

'And I think we all know how much she would want us to finish this particular job. We are all here because we are a band of true believers, fighting for a mine free world.'

Harry's solo itinerary 

Monday, September 23 

AM: Harry appears on a panel discussing: The global mental health crisis among young people at the Concordia summit for The Diana Award.

PM: He will appear on stage for an event promoting the work of the Halo Trust, the charity for which his late mother loved, famously walking through an Angolan minefield in 1997. 

Tuesday, September 24

The Duke of Sussex is expected to attend the 'Protectors of African Parks” benefit gala

Wednesday, September 25 to Friday September 27

Harry will attend a number of other events in relation to the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week and Climate Week. 

Monday, September 30

Harry will be in London for the WellChild Awards

Wearing a navy suit with a Halo Trust pin on his lapel, he recalled following in his mother's footsteps in 2019 when he visited Angola, 22 years after Diana had walked through minefields in the African country. 

Harry spoke of the many changes that he had gone through since his visit five years ago, including becoming a father for the second time with the birth of daughter Lilibet in 2021. 

And he said although you don't need to have children to have a 'stake in the future of our planet', the Duke said his mother would have been 'horrified' to know that anyone's children or grandchildren live in a world still 'infested with mines'.

In an apparent nod to Diana he issued a rallying cry to 'finish the job' as he said: 'Tomorrow let's wake up and get back to work, let's renew our commitments and let's finish the job for all our sakes. 

'So we too can look back in awe and relief and so those who started this recovery and regeneration many years ago can rest knowing we really did finish the job.' 

Earlier today, Harry appeared on stage in New York to discuss mental health and climate change with two young winners of a legacy award given in Princess Diana's memory.

The Duke said his late mother would be 'proud' of them as he took part in the 14th Concordia Annual Summit in support of The Diana Award on his eight-day solo trip to the East Coast and the UK.

Harry, who cracked his knuckles and looked nervous as he sat down on stage, spoke of the importance of mental wellness at an event where participants talked about their climate anxiety. 

Wearing a navy suit with a Halo Trust pin on his lapel, he recalled following in his mother's footsteps in 2019 when he visited Angola, 22 years after Diana had walked through minefields in the African country
Harry departs the HALO Trust event celebrating Angola's leadership in landmine clearance
The Duke said his mother would have been 'horrified' to know that anyone's children or grandchildren live in a world still 'infested with mines'
Prince Harry delivered an emotional speech that 'carrying on Diana's legacy is something he takes very seriously'
Harry walks behind Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio (right) as they depart the Halo Trust event
James Cowan, chief executive officer of Halo Trust, speaks at the event

He personally interviewed Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang from Indonesia and Christina Williams from Jamaica, who received The Legacy Award in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, joking: 'For some reason I’ve been given the microphone to ask the questions’.

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Prince Harry appears on mental health panel in New York

He told them: 'I applaud you for having the confidence to be on this stage. I know my mother would be incredibly proud of you guys. Your activism is true to how my mother lived her life'.

Harry, wearing a navy suit and tie with a Diana Award pin on his lapel, asked: 'Do you feel like leaders and people in positions of power are listening to you?', adding that he wanted the The Diana Award to help their campaigning to tackle climate change and bring influence around the world.

And 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'.

His decision to jet off alone to New York to meet royals and celebrities before a solo trip to Britain shows he is determined to 'carve out' new opportunities and 'assert himself' after turning 40, experts told MailOnline today.

The Duke is away from Montecito for the next eight days and went to a California benefit organised by Kevin Costner on Saturday, without his American wife.

Harry has always made an effort to continue his mother's 'unfinished' work, revealing in 2022 that he felt 'obligated' to live out her legacy 'as much as possible'. 

Prince Harry on stage in New York to discuss mental health with two young winners of an award in his mother's memory. 
Much of the conversation was about climate change. Harry looked slightly nervous and cracked his knuckles
Harry interviewed Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang from Indonesia and Christina Williams from Jamaica, who received The Legacy Award in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales

In a podcast interview, Harry told former rugby player Gareth Thomas: 'I think once you get to meet people and you see the suffering around the world, you can't turn, I certainly can't turn, my back on that.

'Then add in the fact that my mum's work was unfinished, I feel obligated to try and continue that as much as possible.'

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He added: 'I could never fill her shoes, especially in this particular space because of what she did and what she stood for and how vocal she was about this issue.'

Harry's attendance had sparked speculation that he may be in the city at the same time as his brother Prince William who is thought to attending the third annual Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit at The Plaza Hotel on September 24.

It's unknown if he will attend for sure, but he was present last year at the same event.

If Prince William does come to New York when Harry is there, it's likely the brothers will steer clear from one another, as a source told The Sunday Times in August that the siblings hadn't spoken in 'two years.'

It was said that the last time they talked was at their grandmother Queen Elizabeth's funeral in September 2022.

The insider described the 'estrangement' as 'dreadfully sad,' adding that Prince William doesn't even want Harry at his coronation when the time comes.