Prince Harry’s Heartfelt Tribute to Activists in N.Y.C.: ‘My Mom Would Be Incredibly Proud of You’

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit in honor of The Diana Award in New York City on Sept. 23, 2024.Photo:Sipa via AP Images

Sipa via AP Images

Multiple parts ofPrince Harry’s most recent New York City visit pay tribute to his mother,Princess Diana— perhaps none more obvious than his engagement with recipients of The Diana Award, the only award named in his late mother’s honor.

On Sept. 23, Prince Harryspoke on a panelwith Dr. Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award, and two award recipients, Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang, 18, of Indonesia, and Christina Williams, 27, of Jamaica. The Duke of Sussex, 40, posed questions to the two on stage alongside Ojo on Monday, at one point telling them, “I applaud you for certainly, [at] your age, to be on this stage, to have the confidence that you do, and to be able to speak as clearly and as passionately as you do. And I know that my mum would be incredibly proud of you guys — not just you, but all of the award winners.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit on Sept. 23, 2024 in New York City.John Nacion/Getty

John Nacion/Getty

Diana died at just 36 years old following an Aug. 31, 1997 car accident. Harry, for his part, was just 12 years old when he lost his mother. The Diana Award was established in 1999, two years after the late Princess of Wales’ death, and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Harry made sure the young people took center stage at the Concordia Annual Summit in New York City, part of The Diana Award’s “Decade of Youth Wellbeing.” According to a release from The Diana Award, the initiative is a “bold, ambitious and collaborative plan to harness the power [of] young people, like Christina and Chiara, to lead positive change.”

“There is reason to have hope,” Ojo said in the statement. “When empowered and given the tools to unlock their potential, we know young people can lead the positive change the world needs. On our 25th anniversary, this event gives us the platform to share our insights and launch our ambitious plan for the next decade.”

The Diana Award recipients Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang of Indonesia and Christina Williams of Jamaica sit on a panel with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Dr. Tessy Ojo CBE as they attend the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit in honor of The Diana Award in New York City on Sept. 23, 2024.Sipa via AP Images

Princess Diana on Sept. 6, 1995.Tom Wargacki/WireImage

Williams is a winner of The Diana Legacy Award, which celebrates the achievements of the 20 most outstanding Diana Award recipients from the previous two years who have changed the world.

The Diana Award recipients Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang of Indonesia and Christina Williams of Jamaica sit on a panel with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex as they attend the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit in honor of The Diana Award in New York City on Sept. 23, 2024.Sipa via AP Images

After Zhang and Williams answered a number of questions, Harry spoke about how the younger generation inspired him: “The reason why I wanted to go last is because these guys are the ones that give me hope,” he said. “I’ve said it years ago and I’ll say it again — the younger generation are, not putting too much pressure on you guys, you are what give me hope. The courage that you have gives me hope, because every single one of us need courage in order to really move the dial and create positive change in today’s world, probably more so now than ever.”

He continued, “So thank you to you guys for giving me and probably a whole lot of people in this room hope, and now we need to listen — constantly listen — and then act on the advice and the vision that you have, because otherwise it’s your future that’s being stolen from you, and that is unacceptable.”

The Diana Award has the support of both of her sons — both Prince Harry and his brother,Prince William. The organization is dedicated to empowering young people to create change, and both William and Harry attended its Legacy Award event in London in March (William in person, and Harry virtually).

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit in honor of The Diana Award in New York City on Sept. 23, 2024.Sipa via AP Images

“It’s a privilege to have the support of both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex, particularly as we mark our 25th anniversary year,” Ojo previously told PEOPLE.

The Diana Award engagement is one of the first of many stops for Harry as he spends time in New York City. He will take part in work surrounding African Parks, Travalyst and the Clinton Global Initiative, and will continue to honor his mother Princess Diana later on Sept. 23 as he undertakes an engagement with The HALO Trust, a humanitarian group at work in over 30 countries and territories around the world to clear landmines and debris of war. The organization gained international attention when the late Princess of Waleswalked through an active landminein Huambo, Angola, in 1997 to call for an international ban. (Prince Harry recreated the same walk years later.)

Diana, Princess of Wales in Angola on Jan. 15, 1997.John Stillwell - PA Images/PA Images via Getty

John Stillwell - PA Images/PA Images via Getty

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Prince Harry is visiting New York City to “advance a number of his patronages and philanthropic activities,” a spokesperson said when the visit was announced, adding he would also “be furthering the work of The Archewell Foundation, the nonprofit organization he co-founded with his wife Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex.”

Meghan Markle, 43, did not join her husband for this trip to New York City.

source: people.com