KEY POINTS

  • Prince Harry delivered a passionate speech on Princess Diana’s birthday
  • Harry said that his mother would have been really proud of everyone who is working hard to eradicate racism 
  • This year's event was celebrated virtually on Princess Diana's 59th birthday

Prince Harry delivered a passionate speech on Princess Diana’s birthday, saying that his late mother would have been really proud of everyone who is working hard to eradicate racism.

The Duke of Sussex shared a video message on July 1 (Wednesday) with the young people who were being honored at the Diana Award ceremony for their humanitarian work.

Harry started the clip by saying that he is extremely proud to be part of such an amazing award ceremony because it honors the legacy of his late mother. He then noted that his mother has been an “inspiration” to many youngsters and that if she were still alive today, she would have been extending her support to those who need it.

The youngest son of Princess Diana and Prince Charles added that his mother was popular among the masses because she always came out of her comfort zone to help others and never took an easy route to solve a problem.

“I am so incredibly proud to be part of these awards as they honor the legacy of my mother. I know that my mother has been an inspiration to many of you and I can assure you, she would have been fighting in your corner. Like many of you, she never took the easy route, or the popular one, or the comfortable one. But she stood for something and she stood up for people who needed it,” Harry said in the video.

He also addressed the problems that the world is facing right now due to racism. Harry said that young people can make a difference and change the society where “division” and “anger” are dominating.

“Right now we are seeing situations around the world where division, isolation, and anger are dominating, as pain and trauma come to the surface, but I see the greatest hope in people like you,” Harry said in the clip.

This year's ceremony was celebrated virtually on Princess Diana's 59th birthday. Touted as one of the most prestigious accolades in the United Kingdom, young people aged 9 to 25 are eligible to receive the award.

The recipients of the 2020 Diana Award are as follows:

Dev Sharma

Lee Taylor

Blake Leonard

Alice Rath

Muhammad Ahmad

Jhemar Jonas

Rebekah Lazarus

James Da Costa

Nishka Mathur

Freya Thakral

Prince Harry
Britain's Prince Harry is pictured. AFP/Adrian DENNIS