During a panel at the Concordia Annual Summit, Harry, 40, joined Dr. Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award, alongside two honorees, Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang, 18, from Indonesia, and Christina Williams, 27, from Jamaica. Harry praised their confidence and passion, stating, "I know my mother would be incredibly proud of you, as well as all the award recipients."
Princess Diana passed away in a car crash in 1997 at the age of 36 when Harry was just 12. The Diana Award, founded in 1999, marks its 25th anniversary this year and aims to empower young people to drive positive societal change. The event in New York is part of its "Decade of Youth Wellbeing" initiative, which fosters youth-led progress.
Zhang, who founded Cases 4 Care Indonesia at 11, has provided education to children and established libraries, while Williams, also starting her advocacy at 11, has achieved significant progress in improving health insurance access for students in Jamaica.
Both awardees shared their experiences on stage, inspiring Harry to express his admiration for the younger generation's courage and vision. He emphasized the need to listen to and support young leaders as they work toward shaping a better future.
The Diana Award continues to be supported by both Harry and his brother, Prince William. Harry's New York visit included other engagements with organizations like The HALO Trust, continuing his late mother's legacy of humanitarian work. The HALO Trust, renowned for its efforts to clear landmines, gained global attention when Diana famously walked through an active minefield in Angola in 1997.
