Jennie, reflecting on Diana’s legacy, warmly noted, “Diana would, I’m sure, have been very supportive of the choices Harry has made. I think she would have been proud of him for having the courage to leave a life in which he was so unhappy. She probably would have giggled with delight at some of the barbs he had fired at Palace courtiers the ‘grey men’ who she felt made her life such a misery.”
She continued, “But, saying that, she would have been distraught by the deep rift between Harry and his brother. She always made them promise they would be best friends for life. That, sadly, has proved impossible, but Harry is continuing to prove his loyalty to the causes and charities that mean so much to him. That is something that Diana would have admired and been proud of.”
Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award, shared a panel with Prince Harry at the summit to discuss the global mental health crisis. Tessy praised the Duke as “a passionate advocate for mental health”. She added, “He actually said to me, as we came in, that actually, we should no longer talk about mental health, we should talk about mental fitness. His dedication to this cause strengthens our mission.”
During the significant UN General Assembly High-level Week and Climate Week, Prince Harry was in New York City to “advance a number of his patronages and philanthropic initiatives,” according to his spokesperson.
Jennie explains that this work is central to Harry’s future aspirations. “I don’t think he has some grand plan to rebuild his image, I think he just wants a more balanced life where he can come back to his home country, carry out engagements and, hopefully, spend a bit of time with his father, before returning to his home and family in California. “Friends of his say he is kind, funny and pretty damn normal… and that he cares passionately about injured veterans, mental health, internet dangers and the other campaigns he is involved with.”
Harry is set to make a heartwarming return from the US to attend the prestigious WellChild Awards in London on 30 September, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to charitable work. The Duke has lauded the charity, as patron for over a decade, stating: “I am once again honoured to attend this year’s awards celebrating the remarkable courage and achievements of children living with complex medical needs. These incredible young people, along with the dedicated caregivers, nurses and professionals who tirelessly support them, inspire us all. It is a true privilege to recognise such extraordinary individuals. ”
Prince Harry’s decision to journey alone to the UK, amidst speculation of a desire to spend more time on home soil compared to Meghan, reflects a certain urgency to carve out a meaningful independent path, according to Royal commentator Phil Dampier.
Phil noted: “He’s turned 40 and must be asking himself what the future holds. I think he’s desperate to find some new meaning to his life and that seems to involve branching out on his own more. He clearly wants to find some causes he can get involved in and give his life some purpose. Meghan doesn’t want to come back to this country, so he will have to fly solo. ”
Echoing Phil’s sentiments, Jennie chimes in: “As Meghan has her own business interests and causes, it seems perfectly normal to me that they would sometimes carry out solo engagements, leaving one parent at home to look after the children. It strikes me that they have a very equal partnership which allows them both to stand out. And the truth is, Harry still shines brilliantly on his own.”
