Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were named ‘Humanitarians of the Year’ at a glitzy New York gala last night – immediately after King Charles and Prince William put on a united front in London.
The Duchess of Sussex used her acceptance speech to voice fears about Archie and Lilibet growing up in a digital age – hours after the Princess of Wales visited a children’s charity and warned that excessive screen time can harm family life.
Meghan was also praised as ‘a mother, wife, entrepreneur, and philanthropist’ as she received the award. Harry’s work with mental health companies and his controversial 2021 memoir Spare were listed among his achievements.
The competing events, 3,500 miles apart, could stir up trouble and pour cold water on hopes of peace talks between the warring Windsors.
The Daily Mail revealed yesterday that a friend of the Sussexes has predicted: ‘Meghan will return to Britain before the year is out’ and could come bearing ‘humble pie’.
The couple are apparently planning their reconciliation with the royal family in a secret plot dubbed: ‘Project Thaw’. There have been claims that William could even meet Harry – but he is not willing to do so with Meghan present.
This morning a video showing the future king breaking down in tears also emerged. William couldn’t hide his anguish as he discussed the devastating impact of suicide with a mother whose husband took his own life just five days after their one-year-old son died.
The King and his eldest son were together at the Natural History Museum in London last night for a rare joint public engagement, brought together by their shared passion for the environment. A video showed them warming greeting each other with William warmly putting his hand on Charles’ shoulder.
But a matter of hours later Harry and Meghan made their own rare joint appearance on the red carpet on Thursday night after they were named ‘Humanitarians of the Year’ at the Project Healthy Minds gala in New York.
The couple were very tactile on the red carpet and speaking on stage as she accepted the award, Meghan said: ‘Our children, Archie and Lili, are just six and four years old. Luckily still too young for social media, but we know that day is coming.
‘Like so many parents, we think constantly about how to embrace technology’s benefits, while safeguarding against its dangers. That hopeful intention of separation is rapidly becoming impossible.’
Project Healthy Minds’ ‘Humanitarians of the Year’ award has only been won once before, last year. Jeff Yabuki and his wife Gail got the gong for their commitment to mental health work after Jeff’s brother took his own life in 2017.
Meghan was joined on stage by Harry, who also shared words of wisdom about the dangers of technological advancements.
He said: ‘This is a pivotal moment in our collective mission to protect children and support families in a digital age.’
The pair were met with applause as they wrapped up their remarks – but royal watchers were struck by how similar their message was to the Princess of Wales’ from earlier today.
Last night Meghan and Harry were celebrated for their work in the online sphere, beginning in 2020 when they consulted with Stanford University experts tracking social media’s impact on young people.
Project Healthy Minds celebrated Harry’s work as ‘a humanitarian, mental health advocate, environmentalist, and military combat veteran’ in honoring him on Thursday night.
As well as listing Harry’s work with mental health companies, it also mentions his controversial 2021 memoir Spare as being among his achievements.
Elsewhere Meghan, is noted to be ‘a mother, wife, entrepreneur, and philanthropist’.
Their Archewell foundation drew further attention to the crisis after the gala, citing a statistic from the Social Media Victims Law Center which states as many as 4,000 families have pursued legal action relating to damaging social media exposure.
The Duke and Duchess’ organization stated that figure ‘represented only a fraction of affected families, limited to those with the resources and capacity to take legal action through a single law firm.
‘If these deaths and harm to children were ”unintended consequences” ten years ago,’ Harry said, ‘then what are they now?’
The former working royals graced the red carpet ahead of the event, keeping their hands locked tightly together as Meghan lovingly gazed at her husband while they made their way past the flashing cameras and into the event.
Hours earlier, Harry’s estranged brother Prince William put on a united front with King Charles as they made a rare joint public engagement.
The father-son duo arrived at the Natural History Museum in London to attend ‘Countdown to COP30’, after travelling from Buckingham Palace where they had convened beforehand.
The event brings together organisations and individuals tackling the global environmental crisis ahead of the United Nations’ annual climate change summit in Brazil in November.
The non-profit also highlights ‘her lifelong advocacy for women and girls remains a constant thread she weaves through both humanitarian and business ventures’.
During the gala, the royal couple announced their organization The Parents’ Network would join forces with Parents Together, to give the initiative ‘broader reach and deeper impact as technology continued its rapid evolution.’
The duo said the move was ‘a natural evolution to enable the community to continue to grow and have more impact alongside the rapid rise of technology.’
‘We know that the challenges ahead are significant,’ they said, ‘but we also know that when parents come together, when communities unite, real change is possible.’
Project Healthy Minds founder and CEO Phillip Schermer spoke briefly about the couple’s work, telling the crowd: ‘It is a privilege to honor Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, at our World Mental Health Day Gala this year.
‘Their leadership, generosity, and unwavering commitment to advancing mental health awareness have made a profound difference in the lives of so many.’
The ‘festive cocktail’ attire-themed ceremony was hosted by Emmy award-winning Today show host Carson Daly.
However, the royal couple’s award came amid a critical letter being issued by the government of Chad targeting a charity with which the Duke is closely linked.
The country’s environment minister, Hassan Bakhit Djamous, has accused African Parks – which counts Harry among its board members – of financial misconduct and ‘disrespect’.
In a damning four-page letter, Mr Djamous said African Parks had demonstrated ‘a recurring indelicate and disrespectful attitude’ towards his government.
The charity, of which Harry was president for six years before he joining its board in 2023, looks after more than 20 protected national parks and reserves in 13 countries on behalf of their governments.
Its backers include famous billionaire investors Warren Buffet and Bill Ackman, and it has counted the EU, WWF and People’s Postcode Lottery among its supporters.
But Mr Djamous has accused it of illegally collecting tourist revenues, using tax-sheltering bank accounts in the Isle of Man and transferring assets abroad in ‘flagrant violation’ of Chad’s banking laws.
The Duke, 41, was this week at the Movember Institute for Men’s Health for a sit-down conversation.
He spoke of how too many men were being raised by algorithms, and how his mental health advocacy was sparked by speaking with veterans after he had finished serving in the British Army.
‘I found myself speaking to many veterans and sitting down with them I realised the silence is killing people,’ he said, adding, ‘Stamping out the stigma globally, we’ve come a long way. Access to therapy is still a massive problem.’
In a joint statement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: ‘Working with families and young people to prioritize safety online has been some of the most meaningful work of our lives.
‘As parents ourselves, we have been moved to action by the power of their stories and are honored to support them.
‘We’re proud to be long-time partners of Project Healthy Minds as we work together to shine a light on what remains one of the most pressing issues of our time.’
