In the four years since stepping down from his senior royal role, Prince Harry’s life has undergone a significant transformation. While his journey has been filled with emotional and challenging moments, the Duke of Sussex appears to have found a new sense of purpose, especially evident during his recent solo trip to New York.
Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, did not accompany him on this trip, allowing him to focus on causes close to his heart, including conservation, environmental protection, and honoring the legacy of his late mother, Princess Diana.
Royal expert Jennie Bond applauds Harry’s commitment to these causes, stating, “It shows the family back home that he is still determined to continue his kind of service without all the royal trappings.”
During his New York visit, Harry participated in events celebrating Diana’s work, particularly the HALO Trust and the 25th anniversary of the Diana Award. He praised young activists at the Concordia Annual Summit, expressing his belief that his mother would be proud of their efforts.
Bond believes Diana would have been supportive of Harry’s decision to step away from royal life, despite the subsequent controversies. “Diana would, I’m sure, have been very supportive of the choices Harry has made. I think she would have been proud of him for having the courage to leave a life in which he was so unhappy. She probably would have giggled with delight at some of the barbs he had fired at Palace courtiers – the ‘grey men’ who she felt made her life such a misery.”
However, Bond acknowledges that Diana would have been deeply saddened by the rift between Harry and his brother, William. “She would have been distraught by the deep rift between Harry and his brother. She always made them promise they would be best friends for life. That, sadly, has proved impossible.”
