Prince Harry arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine on Thursday. He gave the keynote address at a significant security conference, and he also spoke at an Invictus event. On Friday, Harry was in Bucha to meet with officials there, and he laid a wreath at a war memorial and did more work with veterans and the military. He met with some NATO commanders as well. Harry also did some work with his longtime patronage, The HALO Trust. The Russians have left mines across Ukraine, and the HALO Trust has been working tirelessly to demine. When Harry went to Kyiv last September, we learned that Harry is extremely popular within Ukraine, and that Ukraine’s Invictus team are all national heroes. This visit has solidified all of that – everyday Ukrainians have come out to see him, everyone wants to talk to him and one guy even got Harry to sign a hard copy of Spare.
For this trip, ITV’s Chris Ship traveled with Harry and Ship was given several big exclusives, including a one-on-one interview about the work of HALO and the war in Ukraine. The big moment, the moment everyone’s talking about, came in the second half of the interview. Ship asked Harry if he feels unburdened by not being a working royal anymore, and Harry first spoke about “I think the Overton Window has shifted somewhat over the past five years,” then said that he hopes everyone, especially people with power and influence, can freely speak their mind about injustice and “speak truth to power.” The “Overton Window” reference is FASCINATING!!! But the quote which has gotten everyone riled up comes around the 5:30-mark: “I will always be part of the royal family and I’m here, working and doing the very thing I was born to do. And I enjoy doing it.”
At the end, Ship asks Harry if he believes this Ukrainian visit will affect King Charles’s state visit to the US, and Harry hilariously shrugs off the question. Because… of course it won’t affect the state visit! Donald Trump has completely lost the plot in general, but specifically about Ukraine. And Charles won’t bring it up. Anyway, the usual suspects are hyperventilating about Harry’s answer that he’ll always be part of the royal family and he’ll always work. I heard glasses breaking in Forest Lodge! His brother has never, ever understood that Harry works because it’s his calling and he wants to make a difference. William has never seen his own work that way, as a calling, as a responsibility, as part of his noblesse oblige. William only sees work as something to be avoided at all cost.
Prince Harry: “It’s fantastic to see how HALO is using modern technologies to speed up the process of demining. The improvements and the ability to clear landmines faster is extraordinary.”
The Duke of Sussex today joined HALO for a demonstration of the latest demining… pic.twitter.com/0nMHHSozP3
— The HALO Trust (@TheHALOTrust) April 24, 2026
The People’s Prince.
Prince Harry greets Ukrainian military personnel. And signs a copy of his bestselling, record breaking book, Spare.#PrinceHarry pic.twitter.com/NQkSB9mQ3Y
— ChrisBaronSmith (@ChrisBaronSmit1) April 25, 2026
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, screencaps from The HALO Trust’s video.
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- Ukrainian journalist and TV presenter, spokesman for the 8th Corps of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces Vadym Karpiak, Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Nataliia Kalmykova, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, and StratCom Ukraine founder and Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Centre for Defence Strategies Alina Frolova (L to R) attend the Invictus Games Ukraine Forum, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games movement in Ukraine, at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in WWII Memorial Complex, Kyiv, Ukraine, April 24, 2026. Ukraine has participated in the Invictus Games since 2017, showing strong results and steady team growth. The Ukrainian team competes in athletics, archery, rowing, and swimming, earning numerous medals and prize placements.,Image: 1094310656, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: This photo cannot be distributed in the Russian Federation., Model Release: no, Credit line: Danylo Antoniuk/UkrInform/Avalon
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- Prince Harry (C), The Duke of Sussex, signs a book while meeting Ukrainian soldiers and veterans at one of the interactive locations during the Invictus Games Ukraine Forum, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games movement in Ukraine, at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in WWII Memorial Complex, Kyiv, Ukraine, April 24, 2026. Ukraine has participated in the Invictus Games since 2017, showing strong results and steady team growth. The Ukrainian team competes in athletics, archery, rowing, and swimming, earning numerous medals and prize placements.,Image: 1094310668, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: This photo cannot be distributed in the Russian Federation., Model Release: no, Credit line: Danylo Antoniuk/UkrInform/Avalon
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- Prince Harry (C), The Duke of Sussex, signs a book while meeting Ukrainian soldiers and veterans at one of the interactive locations during the Invictus Games Ukraine Forum, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games movement in Ukraine, at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in WWII Memorial Complex, Kyiv, Ukraine, April 24, 2026. Ukraine has participated in the Invictus Games since 2017, showing strong results and steady team growth. The Ukrainian team competes in athletics, archery, rowing, and swimming, earning numerous medals and prize placements.,Image: 1094310729, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: This photo cannot be distributed in the Russian Federation., Model Release: no, Credit line: Kirill Chubotin/UkrInform/Avalon
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- Prince Harry (C), The Duke of Sussex, visits the exhibition area of ??the TYTANOVI Rehabilitation Centre in the mobile town during the Invictus Games Ukraine Forum, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games movement in Ukraine, at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in WWII Memorial Complex, Kyiv, Ukraine, April 24, 2026. Ukraine has participated in the Invictus Games since 2017, showing strong results and steady team growth. The Ukrainian team competes in athletics, archery, rowing, and swimming, earning numerous medals and prize placements.,Image: 1094310762, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: This photo cannot be distributed in the Russian Federation., Model Release: no, Credit line: Danylo Antoniuk/UkrInform/Avalon
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- Prince Harry (C), The Duke of Sussex, and Ukraine’s Minister for Veterans Affairs Nataliia Kalmykova pose with the team of the Center for Scaling Technology Solutions at their booth in the mobile town during the Invictus Games Ukraine Forum, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games movement in Ukraine, at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in WWII Memorial Complex, Kyiv, Ukraine, April 24, 2026. Ukraine has participated in the Invictus Games since 2017, showing strong results and steady team growth. The Ukrainian team competes in athletics, archery, rowing, and swimming, earning numerous medals and prize placements.,Image: 1094310770, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: This photo cannot be distributed in the Russian Federation., Model Release: no, Credit line: Kirill Chubotin/UkrInform/Avalon
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- Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, StratCom Ukraine founder and Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Centre for Defence Strategies Alina Frolova and Minister for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Nataliia Kalmykova (L to R) talk during the Invictus Games Ukraine Forum, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games movement in Ukraine, at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in WWII Memorial Complex, Kyiv, Ukraine, April 24, 2026. Ukraine has participated in the Invictus Games since 2017, showing strong results and steady team growth. The Ukrainian team competes in athletics, archery, rowing, and swimming, earning numerous medals and prize placements.,Image: 1094310790, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: This photo cannot be distributed in the Russian Federation., Model Release: no, Credit line: Kirill Chubotin/UkrInform/Avalon
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- Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, attends the Invictus Games Ukraine Forum, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games movement in Ukraine, at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in WWII Memorial Complex, Kyiv, Ukraine, April 24, 2026. Ukraine has participated in the Invictus Games since 2017, showing strong results and steady team growth. The Ukrainian team competes in athletics, archery, rowing, and swimming, earning numerous medals and prize placements.,Image: 1094310810, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: This photo cannot be distributed in the Russian Federation., Model Release: no, Credit line: Kirill Chubotin/UkrInform/Avalon
Chris Ship did a great job in Ukraine reporting on Harry. Beside the subject at hand, which he also cover the Halo Trust work very well with historical and technology contexts. He even reminded the public that funds are needed for them to continue (podcast). What I truly appreciated of his reporting is that for the first time Harry was able to remind people that he is part of the royal family, works hard and love it. It showed that Harry knows he has a platform and understand the importance of using it for good.
I don’t think he had to remind anyone that he’s still part of the RF – the press and the left-behinds have been screaming about it for years. It’s more about letting the world know that, no matter what happens and despite all of William’s threats, he will always consider himself part of the RF. It’s also a shot at those who say he’s cowering miserably in Montecito with no purpose and identity.
It need to be said and repeated exactly for the reasons you give. This is how perception even the strongest change. Told by Harry, it have also a very strong impact.
Idk, I kind of think the public does need the reminder that he’s a part of the RF. Yes, they know, but with all the discussion and media crying about how he’s not a working royal, it’s a good reminder to make the distinction that being a working royal doesn’t have anything with being royal or part of th royal family. It seems obvious but that’s part of what the BM has been trying to do. But as long as the monarchy exists, then there are royals whether they are “working” royals or not, aka whether they get paid public funds or not.
It’s fascinating to me that each time Harry has gotten away from the royal family (and had time and space to focus on healing his humanity) it has made him an even better prince and royal.
Harry low key saying through the use of Overton window that the meaning of being a working royal has shifted over as well. Especially in William’s case, which means not working much either.
I am impressed with his Overton Window reference all these people who refer to him as “dim” will be googling it I’m sure. Bet Peggy has already had someone read him the definition.
Right? But hasn’t Tina Brown and others referenced how Harry just isn’t that bright. They’re freaking liars with an agenda. Harry is very intelligent and clearly reads.
@NIC919
What he said is important for another reason. Everyone jumped at Harry for saying in he didn’t want to be a member of the Royal Family. HE NEVER SAID THAT!
He said he didn’t want to be a “working member of the Royal Family” because—WARNING—he wanted to do something, and that’s why he preferred being in the military, because at least he could be active.
I don’t know why no one noticed this seemingly contradictory statement, which simultaneously sums up the “working member” of the Royals.
The word “working” is misleading, as it has nothing to do with work and everything to do with subordination. Besides representing the Queen in the world, which Elizabeth gladly entrusted him with and Harry eagerly did, attempting to take any initiative was a murderous battle with William, who blocked ALL of Harry’s initiatives, on the principle of “I don’t want to do anything, so I won’t let you either.” When Harry registered something for the royal foundation, William would shout “mine” and the initiative would fail.
Therefore, Harry had long registered initiatives important to him, such as Sentebale and Invictus, for which the Queen and her lawyer helped him, while William was away. Upon his return, William continued to yell that he wouldn’t allow it, and Harry simply said, “It’s already done.” William then went to the Queen several times to ask her to take Harry’s IG and give it to William, and he tried to do so through his lawyers at least twice.
I still think the ‘dim’ bit was to make William look intelligent in comparison.
William thrived at Eton, Harry would have fitted much better in Gourdeston
William should have failed out of university had he not switched programs and Charles got involved. It is obvious that William isn’t an intellectual and cares more about sports. If you are any good in a school like Eton, you would not be struggling for a basic undergrad degree. We aren’t talking science or even an English lit degree. William couldn’t be bothered to do the work.
So the question is, was William actually a good student at Eton or did he just have more “help”. The heir to the crown can’t fail at school after all.
It’s pretty obvious now that Harry is the one who reads and absorbs things. William is a dimwit.
@Inge
“William did brilliantly at Eton” ..????
Are you kidding?
A retired Eton teacher confessed in an interview that every time the grades were awarded, a call came from the palace appealing for William’s grades to be raised, grades, because it’s not appropriate for the heir to the throne to be the worst in his year.
I’m tired of this constant repetition about stupid Harry and clever William, because all they have to do is speak and there’s no need to declare who is who, because it’s obvious. The intellectual gulf between the brothers is huge, and William is the conspicuous idiot, struggling to read a single sentence or utter a few coherent words.
And Harry demonstrates at every turn that he’s a brilliant, intelligent man, a great speaker, with a rich vocabulary and knowledge related to every subject he covers. Funnily enough, both brothers have wives on par with theirs :)))))
Did you see the comment from the EU’s ambassador to Ukraine where she praised Harry as a “a true statesman”? Whew will that get under some people’s skin. The chair of the NATO military committee also called his dedication to injured veterans “inspiring”.
It doesn’t matter how many Tom Bower hit jobs the Firm orders on Harry; as long as he continues to show up and do the work he will continue to have the respect of the people that matter.
This almost feels like Harry is just deliberately f–king with his brother? Which, I’m here for it. Keep making William look not only lazy, but unhinged and jealous and petulant. Show the world what he truly is.
At this point why not? He has to be beyond done with his brother after the decade long hate campaign WanK has run, with his constant threats of how he will punish Harry’s family. He is the one working Royal that anyone respects for his accomplishments and achievements while the others are just born and play acting for the public by the looks of them.
I don’t think William crossed Harry’s mind once before, during or after this interview. William has made it clear, through various mouthpieces, that he’s done with Harry and I think Harry has accepted that and has moved on.
William is not done with Harry.
Harry is done with William – ‘space’.
William is forced to say that cause well….he is the heir and the relationship must be based on his terms after all.
I have never seen any references to Harry wanting to repair the relationship with William only with his father.
I don’t see it that way, but I understand the sentiment. He was a man raised with a platform to shine light on charities in need. He’s doing exactly what he was born to do He is still Royal, he is still Dianas son. Following in her footsteps.
Dianas charity work didn’t end in the divorce. No one was screaming she shouldn’t be doing that. I guess because she didn’t have a spouse that was a woman of color.
So proud of them to continue to forge a path. It seems to me, Harry doesn’t give a pluck what William and Charles thinks of their work. But Charles and William are obsessed with them.
When people who are old enough (or who follow the BRF) hear or read about the Halo Trust, they will forever recall those groundbreaking images of Diana walking through the minefield. I can see them now in my mind, as clear as day.
Wlliam already gave instruction to go after Harry, in new daily fail article they call him dimwitt sad little lonely boy. There is not one royal who would be called names withouth the approval of the top aka Bulliam
@MIRANDA
William, in his chicken brain, can’t fathom stripping Harry of his titles, which Will can’t do because that’s what Parliament is for, but let’s assume he relieves Harry of any obligations to the BRF and can easily release those remaining 400 pages 🤣
It would be hard to blame Harry for this, because these attacks on him and his family are nothing more than constantly providing Harry with ammunition.
At it’s very base, what he said is true, and what everyone has been saying for years. He is a royal, and he does work quite often. Your inclusion in a family isn’t dependent on whether or not you work in the family business. Either he’s a son, brother, nephew, cousin or he’s not.
The Overton window comment was very interesting, because I think it ties in directly to the biggest worry / fear of the courtiers and the remaining royals. That what people expect out of ” working” royals has shifted over the years. Taking photos, handing out photos of yourself, bland banalities upon meeting people, in exchange for extreme privilege and financial support isn’t enough.
The model that he and Meghan are pushing is going to be more of a demand than what UK taxpayers are getting. Even if they hadn’t left, I think he realizes that this shift would have still happened just with generations changing and expectations changing with those generations along with it. But, it’s even more stark now that they are outside of the family’s financial support and protection, and still doing all of these good works.
Yes, the courtiers see this, which is why we’ve seen the push to make W&K more “impactful” with Earthshot and Early Years and a host of other ventures. The problem is that W&K are lazy and incapable.
Your comment make me feel like there will be a Harry before this interview and a Harry after this. As Miranda wrote, this also sound like a warning to his brother to stop his antics. And this is great.
@DEE(2)
All true, with one caveat. If they hadn’t left, this change wouldn’t have happened, because the palaces (both) would never have allowed it. That was Harry’s problem even before Meghan, as a so-called working member of the Royal Family, in other words, a representative, an important one, he was completely under the palace’s control. He can only do what they allow him to do, they only give him as much money as they want… and if Harry was allowed to do something, William would still stand on the podium and say, “I came up with this, mine.”
That’s why Harry is so dangerous to them now, because he works, earns money, and is constantly involved in initiatives that are important to him and to him, and he has to fight William to implement them, while the public wonders why they pay hundreds of millions of pounds (and with those seabed fees and the like, it runs into the billions) to these slackers who wave and constantly hangover from vacationers in the Tropic.
I agree with this. Harry was under control of the family and could only do so much. As William and Kate got lazier it would only have gotten worse.
whether this impacts the trip all depends on the journalists honestly. if people ask trump idiotic questions to try and get a gossip type answer about harry and meghan instead of asking about the falklands, or ukraine, or uk trade deals etc, then he will address that. so they just need the journalists to ask actual questions. similarly, I think we could do better and avoid making it always a comparison to william. let harry stand on his own. I know the tabloids and tom skyes are always going to write idiotic stuff, but somehow we have to let them become irrelevant.
Harry seems to be speaking up for himself lately. Good for him!
Harry knows that the idea of a working royal was invented to distinguish him from the rest of the senior royals and it’s explains his comments. He knows that it’s all BS and that he does actual work for a living unlike the rest of the tax-funded royals. I love Harry doesn’t give a damn and will do and say whatever he wants and what he think is right. I saw a GB News tweet trying to push the narrative that his comments mean he wants to return to royal life but I think his comments mean he enjoys the freedom he has now and never return to the life he had in the UK.
“I will always be part of the royal family and I am here working…”
That’s the point. They can try to take away whatever they want Harry will always be the son of King Charles III and he always will be working because he wants to support people in neef.
“A royal who works” vs “a working royal.” It’s kind of hilarious bc it’s really about who receives an insane amount of money from the tax-payers. On top of the duchy money.
Exactly why are we paying for an heir who hasn’t accepted Australian PM’s invitation to visit the country and constantly says no to the Foreign Office about tours they’d like him to undertake. Dude has worked a fifth as hard 100 Versus 500 royal Engagements every year over a decade and over the past year has taken to skiving VJ and Anzac day commemorations without ANY reason being given! Harry is running circles round the heir because he’s actually showing up , making an effort and connecting with people at home and abroad!
Something I really appreciate about the Sussexes is how they work to succeed separately and together.
I saw a Reddit comment recently that said Meghan really scored with Harry and I don’t disagree, but I also think he scored with her too. Sometimes you find someone that has a similar drive or goals that you have or want to get to and it just works. I hope it continues to do so and I can’t wait to see the impact they continue to make in the future.
And again, the BRF really REALLY fumbled here.
Prince Harry is evolving. I don’t know where he will end up in history, but he has been reading and listening and learning over the last 6 years, and he is IMPRESSIVE!!!!!
Precisely, what I was thinking. This is kind of accepting and moving on and beyond. Great answer, what is in the heart of things eventually matters, however childishly leftovers are behaving.
I thought that Harry’s interview was good when I listened to it the first time. Upon a second viewing, I think it was brilliant. He took the opportunity to speak directly and to explain on the record to those demented people going on and on about “working” royals and removing his titles and belittling his work. He clearly stated that he is royal, and that he does work, and he defines what that work is. He has redefined a term created to diminish him and Meghan to match the reality of what he actually does with his life. Harry’s hugely successful working trip to Ukraine was immediately followed by William skipping the Anzac commemoration and to be followed by Charles’s US state visit. William fails in his duty yet again, and it is hard to imagine how Charles’s visit will improve the crumbling relationship between the two countries. The best to be hoped for would be that it is not dull and not a disaster. In fact that is the best that Charles and Son can hope for in any circumstance these days. The contrast should be clear. Whether or not it will actually ever be acknowledged is another matter.
By using The Guardian and ITV on two of his Ukraine trips, he is working to establish what is hopefully decent coverage of IG from at least some quarters when it happens in Birmingham. This idea has been analyzed to some extent by Sussex friendly podcasters.
I think @Black Elderberry nailed it, “working” is not about getting stuff done, making waves, gaining traction, getting financing, convening stakeholders, serving the public, advocating for disadvantaged communities, or anything really tangible. In the whole idiotic arcane debate about who is a “working royal” — forget that it’s a contradiction in terms — the meaning of “work” is “working” for William, or Charles, or J.O. Knauf, or whoever the Piers Gaveston society courtier of the day may be. It’s subordination, exactly as you say. As in: you work for me. People who are so deeply invested in point-scoring, scorekeeping, or taking credit and saving face, that they are willing to sabotage good work and viable projects, just to prevent someone else getting credit for bringing them to fruition, are toxic. And the BRF is full of them. It’s a classic dysfunctional workplace.
I’m struck by a few things about Harry’s interview.
1. William could not speak that thoughtfully, off the cuff, about these complex issues for seven minutes. No way.
2. Harry has forged real relationships with the people of Ukraine and cares deeply about reminding the world of their troubles.
3. Harry has found the formula for doing the work he was born to do in the way that brings him satisfaction, the way his mom I think would have eventually done independently of the royal family. He really is impressive.
4. And finally, no wonder the other royals — especially Willy — are threatened.
Go, Harry!
Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇦
Yes to to all the praise for Harry, but I am still very afraid for Harry’s life bc of his hateful (and hating) brother.