Yesterday, Prince Harry and Prince William honored the recipients of the Diana Award. Both brothers are still technically involved with the Diana Award organization, which recognizes people working in charitable and humanitarian causes. There was a rumor going around several months ago that Harry would actually come to the UK for the Diana Award, but he shut that down. Instead, he spoke to the recipients via Zoom, and the Diana Award people posted a screencap on their Instagram, as you can see. William, on the other hand, met with the recipients in person at Kensington Palace. It’s very interesting to me that Kensington Palace didn’t post any photos of that on their social media.
Meanwhile, Wednesday (December 1) was also World AIDS Day. Prince Harry is still involved with several AIDS-related charities and foundations, including Sentebale, the one he founded. Harry wrote a wonderful open letter to mark the day:
“On this World AIDS Day we recognise the 40 years that have shaped life for many,” he wrote in the message addressed to World Heath Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. “We honour those whose lives have been cut short and reaffirm our commitment to a scientific community that has worked tirelessly against this disease. My mother would be deeply grateful for everything you stand for and have accomplished. We all share that gratitude, so thank you.”
Harry’s letter went on to draw a parallel between AIDS activists and another sort of activist — one that didn’t exist during his mother’s lifetime.
“It is striking to now see the world’s leading AIDS activists are also leading the call for COVID-19 vaccine equity,” the 37-year-old explained. “Vaccinating the world is a test of our moral character and we are experiencing a spectacular failure when it comes to global vaccine equity. Similar to the AIDS crisis, we’ve yet again revealed over the past year, that the value of life depends on whether you were born and/or live in a rich nation, or a developing country.”
He warned that without global initiatives, without “breaking pharma monopolies” and without nations fulfilling their promises to deliver vaccine doses to all, “potentially more dangerous COVID-19 variants are likely to arise…It’s time to draw from the lessons we learned throughout the HIV/AIDS pandemic, where millions died unnecessarily due to deep inequities in access to treatment. Are we really comfortable repeating the failures of the past?”
Looking at the young people who’ve benefited from Sentebale, the charity he founded in Southern Africa to help children living in poverty and devastation from AIDS/HIV, he finds the answer.
“Everything I’ve learnt, from the youth of Sentebale, tells me not,” he wrote. “They see how repeating these mistakes is destructive and self- defeating, it is a betrayal of the next generation.” In closing, he added, “Let’s spend today celebrating and building on the work of champions who turned what was once a death sentence into a manageable condition. Let’s spend tomorrow continuing our efforts to save lives and make a difference.”
Again, Harry remains pitch-perfect. It’s still pretty shocking to think that his brother, the royal establishment and the British media was happy to trash him and exile him. They willingly disposed of one of their greatest assets, humanitarians and ambassadors. Meanwhile, Diana’s other son didn’t mark World AIDS Day whatsoever.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instagram.
It must be hard for William to a certain degree that in order to fit in the royal heir mould he had to distance himself from Diana legacy so much especially since he knows her legacy is more associated with Harry since he left and did the Oprah interview.
William is (probably) angry that Harry is trying to claim ownership of the phrase, ‘Diana’s son’ again. I doubt World Aids Day means anything to someone as selfish as William has proven himself to be.
Harry is his mother’s son. He has her heart and her spirit.
Yes, @ Merricat. I mentioned that in another post. Harry is cut from the same cloth as Diana.
I could not imagine a great difference of polar opposites as these 2. Harry came out of his tours and started his causes. Whereas TOB spent his 20’s sitting around and not doing much of anything right? I am sitting here trying to think of what Baldimort has done and I am coming up with nada, zero, zilch and nope.
I think that Harry is such a dynamic and compassionate person and he is willing to go to the mat and call out the bad actors, and still putting the pressure where it needs to be. I can’t wait to see what else Harry and Meghan are able to accomplish!! I love that they are always reaching out and pulling people up!!
Nice! Really good that he mentioned the HIV/ Aids link to covid as well, especially with the new omicron variant spreading: Thank you, Harry!
This was an excellent speech. It’s very hard to be heartfelt without being cheesy or insincere and he nailed it. Harry is the best. Truly.
I agree the letter was really good. He also did a voice over for the People’s Vaccine with the Executive Director of UNAIDS calling for vaccine equity and pleading for there not to be a repeat of the AIDS epidemic. I think what Harry’s doing now is even more impressive than what he did when he was a working royal. He has the freedom to campaign for any issue he wants now.
Loved the photo of the two brothers at the Diana statue unveiling.Harry looks like a man at peace and very comfortable with Diana’s legacy. God has truly blessed him.
I know!! Harry looks so happy, not a care in the world as he has a spring in his step!!
“ It’s still pretty shocking to think that his brother, the royal establishment and the British media was happy to trash him and exile him”
I think none of them are happy because when William started this, I firmly believe it was William driven, they had no inkling of how successful Harry was going to be. It only worked in their favour if Harry failed. William now has the difficult job of catching up and trying to shore up support for himself throughout his father’s reign and the Sussex reign. He badly miscalculated and I’d say the courtiers and the tabloids will make him pay.
It’s always so amusing to be reminded that THIS is all Harry and Meghan ever did. It’s basically the same thing as every other royal person or philanthropist. The Sussexes put out professional communications and supported important charities and the UK press and RF absolutely flipped out.
HOW DARE SHE NOT WEAR PANTYHOSE AND A HAT THAT DAY! HOW DARE SHE WALK INTO A ROOM FIRST! HOW DARE SHE NOT WANT TO BE ABUSED BY FAMILY AND STAFF!
Like, in the history of Royals Behaving Badly, these two together weren’t even a drop in the bucket.
It’s also interesting that the Rota didn’t seem to know anything about this “joint” before hand. There has been a lot of talk about the reception at Althorp but nothing about this. Given that Harry kept the rota away from the statue unveiling I wonder if he has managed to have them kept away from the Diana Award events altogether. Or at least the ones he participates in. It will be interesting to see if the rota is invited to Althorp next week.
Hindsight is 20/20, but it sure looks like Harry always needed to be free of the royal family and rota to find his rightful place in the world. Diana would be so happy that he found actual love, with Meghan, and is also able to speak all of the things his heart wants to say.