15 March 2024 , 07:00
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Prince Harry appeared via video link to praise the recipients of the Diana Legacy Awards on Thursday evening.
The Duke of Sussex, still at home in Montecito, spoke to the inspirational group of people after his brother William had given a speech of his own. The Prince of Wales had also delivered an emotional speech celebrating the winners of the award, where he paid tribute to the “courage, compassion and commitment” of his late mother, Princess Diana.
Harry, who appearance was scheduled for hours after his brother's and who did not appear on screen until William had left the venue, was met with applause and laughter as he appeared on the room's big screen and began by asking the group why they do what he does, before gushing over their role in the world.
Royal sources said it was “a great shame” that the warring princes could not come together on the 25th anniversary of the Diana Awards, established two years after Diana’s death in a 1997 car crash in Paris. Harry looked relaxed as he spoke to the group of visionaries and smiled throughout as he said his mum would be "incredibly proud" of the work the group was doing and praised them for "protecting his mother's legacy".
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Prince Harry appeared via video linkThe awards take place every two years and recognise the most esteemed honours, offering awardees personal and professional development support as they try to enhance their social action work as well as helping them mobilise others to do the same.
Harry told the group he thinks the work they are doing is "amazing" before saying the world's future "depends on some of you". He said: "The impact that you're having on hundreds, thousands, millions of people, without you guys doing that and without you inspiring other young people to do the same thing because it feels good, because it's the right thing to do, but you also get so much from it, that inspiration is like this ripple effect that goes across the water.
Harry laughed with the group during his speech"Every single day that you're working on these things you don't even know the impact that it's making. You don't know when you meet people and you have those interactions, you may potentially change their outlook, change their perspective, given them a little bit more and hopefully inspire them to do something. Again, I am seriously impressed with the work that you do, especially at the young age you are at and the future yours."
He continued by telling the group they'd been chosen to continue his mother's legacy. "That's why you've been chosen," he said. "My mum would be incredibly proud of all the work I've done. I'm incredibly proud, and thank you for doing everything that you do." Harry then urged the group to keep in touch. "It seems like you guys are always thinking outside the box and we need more of that. You've got to keep in contact with each other as you will be able to help each other out, every single one of you." He ended by thanking the group once again for their work.
Hours earlier William paid tribute to the "courage, compassion and commitment" of his late mother Princess Diana, as he celebrated the winners of an award in her name. William addressed the 20 winners in a speech at the glittering ceremony. In his speech, William said the winners, chosen by a special panel of judges chaired by Baroness Doreen Lawrence, reflected “my mother’s belief that young people can change the world”. Hailing from the four corners of the world including the UK, Nigeria and India, Indonesia and Australia,
William explained how they displayed the “passion and determination to make a lasting and meaningful difference to the lives of others”. The ceremony was founded in honour of Harry and William's mum, Princess Diana and the programme offers a range of initiatives designed to unlock recipients’ potential and inspire action. It also helps to create opportunities for young people.
However, the separate appearances of the royal brothers comes as they continue to distance themselves from each other, with no sign of a thawing of the rumoured feud between the two princes. It is believed the distance between the once close siblings started during the early days of Harry's relationship with Meghan Markle.
The Duchess of Sussex and Kate are said to have had a disagreement in the run up to Prince Harry's wedding to the former Suits actress and William and his brother did not meet when Harry spent time with the King at Clarence House following news of his cancer diagnosis last month. In an interview with a US breakfast TV show, Harry said "I love my family" and that he was "grateful" to be able to spend around 45 minutes with Charles when he flew back to the UK.
Harry published his controversial memoir Spare last year, in which he accused William of pushing him into a dog bowl in a row over the Duchess of Sussex. Both William and Harry presented the inaugural legacy awards at St James' Palace in 2017, but the last time they united in their mother’s memory was to unveil a statue in her image at her former Kensington Palace home in 2021, on what would have been her 60th birthday.