When Prince Harry arrived in New York City, his thoughts immediately turned to his family in California, where they were living at the time. Before taking the stage at the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit, the 40-year-old Duke of Sussex FaceTimed his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie, age five, and Princess Lilibet, age three. During the call, he aimed to give his kids a brief virtual tour of the venue at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel by moving the camera around the room.

On the first day of his trip, Prince Harry participated in a panel discussion focused on mental health and shared his thoughts about The Diana Award, which honors his late mother, Princess Diana. He was joined by Dr. Tessy Ojo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Diana Award, along with two recipients of the Diana Legacy Award: 18-year-old Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang and 27-year-old Christina Williams.

“He has a very generous and kind heart,” Zhang said, noting how Harry helped them feel more at ease while speaking on stage and offered comfort afterward. “He was really on the phone with Meghan behind the scenes. That struck me as very nice and helped me understand him better. He ensured we didn’t feel anxious at all.”

Williams commented on Harry’s genuine concern for young people and their voices, stating, “I met someone I admire, and I’m leaving with even more affection, knowing how passionate he is about the causes he represents. They say you should never meet your heroes, but I did, and it was a great experience.”

Both Harry and Meghan consistently communicate with their children even while away. For example, during their trip to Canada in February for the One Year to Go event at the Invictus Games, Meghan captured moments of Harry trying to ski, intending to “show the kids.”

During a meeting with Williams, Zhang, and Ojo, Prince Harry discussed the mental health challenges facing young people today and potential solutions to improve outcomes for their generation. On that same day, the Diana Award announced the launch of its “Decade of Youth Wellbeing” to commemorate its 25th anniversary, described as “a bold, ambitious, and collaborative plan to harness the power of young people, like Christina and Chiara, to lead positive change,” according to the press release.

Harry provided encouragement, stating, “You’re going to go out there and do really well.” Williams noted, “He spoke about important issues he cares about, such as climate change and de-stigmatizing mental health, making it relevant to everyone. Mental health is essential, but so is mental fitness and overall well-being. It was a great way to prepare us for the stage and to speak from the heart.”

Both Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, support The Diana Award. In March, they attended an event in London to celebrate the organization’s 25th anniversary, where they met the 20 Legacy Award recipients from around the globe.

Dr. Ojo expressed appreciation for the brothers’ involvement, saying, “It’s a pleasure to have both of her sons support our mission. They are both very committed to driving change.” She emphasized that their support is a special honor, and they are dedicated to making their mother proud while keeping her legacy alive.

During his trip to New York, one of Harry’s first stops was to meet with the Diana Award jury. Later that day, on September 23, he attended an event hosted by The HALO Trust, an organization his mother passionately supported until her passing in 1997. His journey continues on September 24 with participation in the Clinton Global Initiative and visits to African Parks and Travalyst.