Prince Harry says fatherhood has made him more responsible and accountable in passionate speech at Commonwealth Youth Roundtable

Prince Harry says fatherhood has made him more responsible and accountable in passionate speech at Commonwealth Youth Roundtable

Prince Harry seems to be thinking a lot about his child's future. The 34-year-old Duke of Sussex was seen attending the 'Commonwealth Youth Roundtable' at Lancaster House in London on Wednesday. At the event, the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador gave a very passionate speech about the youth in the Commonwealth and their role in the community.

"As someone who is about to become a father, I am acutely aware of our shared responsibility to make this world more resilient and its inhabitants more accountable for the next generation," Harry told the assembled audience. "The only way to see real progress is not by chance, it’s by change."

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, in his role of Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, meets young people from across the Commonwealth in a roundtable discussion at Lancaster House on January 30, 2019, in London, England. The Duke of Sussex heard directly from young people about the issues that are key to them in the run-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2020 (CHOGM) due to be held in Rwanda. (Photo by Matt Dunham - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, in his role of Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, meets young people from across the Commonwealth in a roundtable discussion at Lancaster House on January 30, 2019, in London, England. The Duke of Sussex heard directly from young people about the issues that are key to them in the run-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2020 (CHOGM) due to be held in Rwanda. (Photo by Matt Dunham - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting their first child together in late April or early May. The couple made the news public when they were on a royal tour to Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand. Prince Harry also made a reference to Meghan's pregnancy in his speech on Wednesday.  

"In all of these places, it’s been incredibly humbling to see how young people like yourselves are creating innovative and clever solutions to the diverse challenges you face — whether it be better mental health for everyone, eradicating extreme poverty and improving access to education for girls, or highlighting the very real effects and daily battles of climate change," he said of the Commonwealth countries he and Meghan had recently visited.



 

The Duke of Sussex also pointed out the importance of mental health, which has been the focus for him, Prince William and Kate in recent years. 

The Youth Representatives were seen updating the Duke of Sussex on their activities since the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting last year — and how they can maintain momentum as they work towards the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2020.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, at the roundtable discussion. (Photo by Matt Dunham - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, at the roundtable discussion. (Photo by Matt Dunham - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

"All health is interconnected — our mental health, our planet’s health, the health of our communities," he said. "We do no survive, and certainly do not thrive without the acknowledgment and understanding that in addressing one problem, we are paradoxically solving another."

Meghan Markle, Princess of Sussex will also be attending an event at London’s National Theatre, of which she recently became a patron. 


 
 
 
 
 
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‘As someone who is about to become a father, I am acutely aware of our shared responsibility to make this world more resilient and it’s inhabitants more accountable for the next generation.’ As Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, The Duke of Sussex attended the Commonwealth Youth Roundtable today at Lancaster House in London. The Duke spoke to Youth representatives from Commonwealth countries such as India, Fiji, Ghana and Jamaica, about the issues currently facing young people – and the work they are doing to drive change. These young leaders also discussed how they and other young people have been delivering on the ambitions set out at the Youth Forum in 2018, an event that The Duke officially opened during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

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