Many years and a royal fallout later, the Prince and Princess of Wales hosted an event in Birmingham for World Mental Health Day, while Harry and Meghan attended a panel for Project Healthy Minds.
In a world where the voices of young people are increasingly crucial, the Prince and Princess’ event, aptly titled ‘Exploring our #EmotionalWorlds,’ offered a compelling platform for emerging voices to be heard. The event was a testament to the power of sharing experiences and engaging in vital conversations that shape our collective future.
Gathering a remarkable group of young individuals, each nominated by ten esteemed mental health and youth charities, ‘Exploring our #EmotionalWorlds’ aimed to spotlight specific challenges faced by this generation.
The royals encouraged the young people to keep the conversation going.
During the event, Kate gave a speech, telling the crowd: “Today, more people feel empowered to talk about their mental health than ever before. This is a major step forward. William and I continue to be inspired to see young people, like you all here today, leading this charge – being particularly brave in having some of those conversations yourselves. As a generation, you value and talk more about your mental health than any before you – something we truly admire and applaud.”
While in New York, Harry and Meghan joined in a thought-provoking discussion about the profound impact of the internet and social media on the mental well-being of young individuals. The couple’s Archewell Foundation was a key supporter of the event.
Carson Daly took the reins in facilitating the enlightening “Mental Wellness in a Digital Age” panel for Project Healthy Minds. The panel featured the distinguished Surgeon General Vivek Murthy as a special guest with Harry and Meghan, adding valuable insights and expertise to the discourse.
Harry said: “I can’t start without thanking all the parents, the mothers and fathers that have been here today, for being with us physically here today – but also being on this journey for the last year, creating this community of shared experience.”
Supported by his wife, who added: “A year ago we met some of the families, not all of them. At that time, it was impossible to not be in tears as I’m sure so many of you have been today hearing these stories.
“As parents, our kids are really young – they’re two-and-a-half and four-and-a-half – but social media is not going away.
Harry and Meghan were all smiles when they also visited the Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn, New York earlier on Tuesday.
In a world where the importance of mental health awareness has never been more evident, the former ‘Fab Four’ has remained committed to this vital cause. Their journey has been marked by both challenges and personal growth, yet time has not diminished their dedication to making a positive impact.
