Prince Harry has insisted he will “always be part of the Royal Family” in an interview during his brief trip to Ukraine. The Duke of Sussex was quizzed on his visit to the wartorn country, during which he delivered a punchy speech, issuing direct messages to two world leaders, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Putin.
“I am here working doing the things that I was born to do”, he said, “And I enjoy doing it.” He gave a speech at the Kyiv Security Forum yesterday where he called for Washington to honour its obligations in the Ukrainian conflict and for the Kremlin to “stop this war”.
Today, he joined the HALO Trust, the demining charity his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, worked with, to view a demonstration of the latest digital de-mining technology being used in Ukraine. In an interview with ITV News following the engagement, Harry was asked if he felt like the “shackles” were off now that he is no longer a senior working royal.
“From my perspective, we need to feel empowered to speak truth to power,” he said. “It’s really that simple.”
Harry added: “What would worry me if we live in a world where anyone in my position or anybody, anywhere can’t speak about the very things and the realities that we are seeing.”
The King’s youngest son was then asked if his speech, which has provoked a rebuke from President Trump and the Kremlin, could have an impact on the King and Queen’s state visit to the US next week. Harry simply replied “no”.
And despite now living in America and having little contact with his family, the Duke said: “I will always be part of the Royal Family, and I am here working doing the things that I was born to do. And I enjoy doing it.”