Princes William and Harry appear separately for the Princess Diana Award

prince william And Prince Harry united – separately – to honor young changemakers with the Diana Award in honor of their late mother, Princess Diana.

The brothers appeared in their own respective videos on Friday, June 30 for the 2023 ceremony, which paid tribute to outstanding youth dedicated to making the world a better place. William, 41, opened the event with a speech, while Harry, 38, introduced a group of this year’s winners.

The Prince of Wales, for his part, was introduced by the former Diana Legacy Award winner Hannah Hodgson and praised her – and all the winners – for the “challenges they overcame” to achieve their goals.

“What unites them is their courage, compassion and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others. … Today we recognize the power of all young people to inspire meaningful change,” he said in his video, which was broadcasted via YouTube. “For anyone watching, these stories remind us why organizations like the Diana Award are so important. It reminds us that when we invest in young people, when we give them the tools and opportunities to make a difference, they can really change the world. A conviction that my mother shares and that I proudly continue in her name.”

Meanwhile, Harry later appeared on the program in a separate pre-recorded segment alongside the 2021 Diana Legacy Award winner Cattle Kativhu.

“When someone steps up to be of service, they automatically join this collective. No one is ever a channel for change alone. Each of us has the ability to help create a more just world,” Harry shared. “The brilliant award winners we honor today are proof of that. They illustrate the idea that when we use our voice, real change can happen.”

BetterUp’s CIO spoke of his late mother, who died in a 1996 car accident at the age of 36. “As we gather, I am reminded of the deep belief my mother had in the transformative power of young people,” he said. “She recognized their unique ability to challenge the status quo and strive for a more inclusive and compassionate society.”

He continued, “Her legacy continues to inspire and serve as an example of how to navigate the complexities of our world today. So many of the many challenges we face disproportionately affect young people and, of course, their futures. Whether it’s climate change, mental wellbeing or systemic injustices, the obstacles can seem overwhelming at times. But what gives me hope is the collective power we possess when we work together. The power in the diversity of voices and perspectives that surround it.”

While William and Harry previously united for their father of King Charles III After the coronation in May, they separately attended the historic event, which took place in Westminster Abbey. William was joined by his wife Princess Kate in the front row, while Harry sat in the third with his cousins. The duo didn’t appear to interact during the ceremony before Harry left the festivities early to fly back to California for his son’s 4th birthday. (The Duke of Sussex shares son Prince Archie, 4, and daughter Princess Lillibet, 2, with wife Megan Markle.)

The pair have been estranged since Harry and Meghan stepped down from their senior royal duties in 2020. In Harry’s January memoir, Reservehe described tense moments with his family over the years, including a physical fight he had with William after the prince reportedly called Meghan, 41, “difficult” and “rude”.

That same month, a source told exclusively Us weekly that William “doesn’t even recognize his brother anymore”. “William is absolutely shocked by all of this,” the insider revealed. “He wants to believe there is still hope for peace down the line, but it’s hard.”

William found the “explosive” chapters “rude and offensive” towards him, Kate and Charles, according to the source. “At the moment he has no plans to talk to Harry. He has faced the fact [that] he lost his little brother and maybe for life,” the insider said Us.

Harry, for his part, revealed during the December 2022 Netflix documentary, Harry and Megan, that the tension with William has been the most disturbing part of the whole situation. “I mean, the saddest part was that a wedge had developed between me and my brother so that he is now on the side of the institution,” he explained. “Part of that, I get it. I understand, right? That’s his legacy. So to some extent it is already ingrained in him that part of his responsibility is the survival and continuation of this institution.