Additional Coverage:
- Prince Harry explains what he was ‘born to do’ after being told he’s ‘not a working royal’ (themirror.com)
Prince Harry has reaffirmed his enduring connection to the Royal Family, stating that he will “always be part of the Royal Family,” despite stepping back from official duties in 2020 and maintaining a distance from most of his relatives in the UK.
Currently in Ukraine, the Duke of Sussex is engaged in a series of visits supporting the war-affected nation. During his trip, Harry spoke candidly about his family and addressed recent criticisms suggesting he should be barred from international charitable work due to his status as a non-working royal.
In an interview with ITV News, Harry explained his determination to continue his activism in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of speaking out. “We need to feel empowered to speak truth to power,” he said, making it clear he will not be “gagged” by critics.
Reflecting on his philanthropic mission, the Duke expressed his commitment to raising awareness of global conflicts. “I will always be a part of the Royal Family, and I’m here working doing the very thing I was born to do,” he affirmed.
Harry also highlighted the value of connecting directly with communities in need, underscoring how these experiences strengthen his dedication to humanitarian efforts.
Despite these affirmations, tensions persist between Harry and his brother and sister-in-law, the Prince and Princess of Wales, exacerbated by revelations in Harry’s memoir, Spare. His interactions with his father, King Charles, have been limited since his move to California, with their most recent encounter occurring during a private tea at Clarence House in September 2025.
Earlier in his Ukraine visit, Harry toured the city of Bucha alongside his charity, the Halo Trust. He navigated a mine-laden area wearing a protective vest, recalling the tragic massacre in Bucha in April 2022 when hundreds of civilians and prisoners of war were killed as Russian forces withdrew.
In a poignant echo of his late mother Princess Diana’s famous 1997 walk through an Angolan landmine field, Harry’s presence in Bucha highlighted the ongoing dangers faced by civilians in conflict zones. He praised the Halo Trust’s work and reflected on the somber connection to his mother’s legacy.
“What Halo Trust is doing is absolutely incredible work. It’s sad, it’s very, very sad because nearly 30 years ago, my mother was in Angola, here we are again in a new conflict,” he said.
During the visit, Harry witnessed cutting-edge technology being used to clear mines, including a robotic dog named Spot and AI-driven drones operated with VR equipment. These innovations, developed by Ukrainian forces, address the extensive and long-term challenges posed by landmines. Harry noted, “The clean-up that is going to be needed here will go well into the next two, three, even four decades.”
Upon arriving in Ukraine, Harry delivered a direct appeal to President Vladimir Putin at the Kyiv Security Forum, urging an end to the conflict. “President Putin, no nation benefits from the continued loss of life we are witnessing,” he said. “There is still a moment – now – to stop this war, to prevent further suffering for Ukrainians and Russians alike, and to choose a different course.”
He also condemned the widespread war crimes occurring in occupied territories, highlighting the disturbing treatment of Ukrainian children. “Across occupied territories, there is mounting, documented evidence of systematic war crimes: deliberate attacks on civilians, mass killings, torture, sexual violence, and the forced deportation of entire populations,” Harry stated.
He emphasized that the forcible transfer of children, under international law, is not only a war crime but may constitute genocide when intended to destroy a people’s identity. “This is not collateral damage.
This is not the chaos of war spilling over. This is organised, systematic, intentional, and designed to endure long after the fighting stops,” he concluded.