Prince Harry is pushing back against renewed questions over his royal status, insisting his role has not changed despite stepping back from frontline duties in 2020. Speaking during a visit to Ukraine, the Duke of Sussex addressed claims that he is no longer a “working royal,” while also weighing in on global conflicts. His remarks, delivered during interviews and public appearances, come amid heightened attention on his activities abroad and ongoing tensions surrounding his post-Megxit identity.
Prince Harry Insists His Work Still Reflects Royal Duty
During an interview with ITV News published Friday, April 24, Harry firmly dismissed the idea that he no longer represents the Royal Family. When asked about being described as “not a working royal,” he responded: “No. I will always be part of the Royal Family, and I’m here working and doing the very thing that I was born to do. And I enjoy doing it.”
The comments come six years after the Duke and Meghan Markle stepped back from official duties following the January 2020 Sandringham Summit, where Queen Elizabeth II ruled out a “half in, half out” arrangement. Despite that shift, Harry framed his current humanitarian efforts as a continuation of lifelong service.
Per Daily Mail, while in Ukraine, he visited The Halo Trust, an organization closely associated with his late mother, Princess Diana, and met with mine-clearing teams. His trip also followed a recent visit to Australia with Meghan, described by some as resembling a royal tour.
Speaking Out on War and Global Leadership
Harry used his platform to address ongoing conflicts, urging world leaders to act decisively. In his ITV interview, he said: “we need to feel empowered to speak truth to power,” adding: “What would worry me is if we live in a world where anyone in my position can’t speak about the very things and the realities we are seeing, and hold those in leadership positions accountable.”
He continued: “It’s bad enough in today’s world, feeling gagged and saying that you can’t say these things, and can’t say that. Everything becomes political. I fundamentally disagree with that. What we are seeing is a humanitarian catastrophe in multiple parts of the world… and I would encourage more people to do the speaking up.”
At the Kyiv Security Forum, Harry emphasized the role of the United States in global stability, stating: “The United States has a singular role in this story. Not only because of its power, but because when Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons, America was part of the assurance that Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders would be respected.”
He added: “This is a moment for American leadership, a moment for America, to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations – not out of charity but out of its enduring role in global security and strategic stability.”
His remarks drew a response from Donald Trump, who said: “I know one thing, Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK, that’s for sure. I think I am speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry.” He added: “But I appreciate his advice very much.”
When asked whether his comments could affect his father King Charles III ahead of a planned U.S. visit, Harry replied: “No. Not at all.”
Reflecting on global uncertainty, he said: “I think everybody’s scared, everybody’s worried for what is potentially around the corner. The vast majority of the global population want to see an end to these conflicts. The future does look bleak, but I think that hopefully, with the way that the world is reacting to the conflicts that are happening, we can see an end to these sooner rather than later.”
The Duke’s Ukraine visit, his third since the war began in 2022, shows his continued focus on humanitarian work, even as debate persists over what his role within the Royal Family now looks like.
