Prince Harry is slated to make a digital appearance at a memorial event honoring his late mother, Princess Diana — but only after his big brother has left.
Prince William is scheduled on Thursday to take the stage at the Science Museum in London, where he will give a speech celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Diana Award charity, the Evening Standard reported. The 41-year-old royal is also expected to mingle with supporters and charity staff before he presents the Legacy Award to some 20 recipients before wrapping up for the night.
The Duke of Sussex, who lives in California with wife Meghan Markle, is then slated to appear via video call, during which he will chat and celebrate with the winners. While he won’t be there in person, he will still be a “key part” of the celebration, albeit not until William has exited the venue, Dr. Tessy Ojo, chief executive of the Diana Award, told The Times.
The Legacy Award event is held every two years and highlights the achievements of “20 outstanding young leaders, visionaries and role models from across the world, who have demonstrated their ability to inspire and mobilize new generations to service their communities,” according to its website. The charity event was established “in memory of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and her belief that young people have the power to change the world.”
The Diana Award also emphasizes anti-bullying, offers mentorships and boasts a Young Changemakers program, which is aimed at addressing “the inequalities in mental health experienced by young people with Black and Black-mixed race heritage,” according to the site.
“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 said.
The brothers have been feuding for years — a rift seemingly sparked by Harry’s relationship with Markle and how she was treated by the rest of the royals. In January 2020, the couple announced they’d be taking a step back from their royal duties, putting even more distance between the heir apparent and his little brother.
Then, in March 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a bombshell interview, during which Markle revealed her mental health struggles and the racism she’d faced.
Harry also briefly addressed his relationship with William: “As I’ve said before, I love William to bits. He’s my brother. We’ve been to hell together. But we’re on different paths.”
“The relationship is ‘space’ at the moment,” Harry continued. “And time heals all things, hopefully.”
