Prince Harry Shifts Focus to “Mental Fitness” in Effort to Break Down Stigma During Youth Event
Prince Harry has sparked fresh controversy following his unconventional appearance at the 14th Concordia Annual Summit, where he supported The Diana Award. During the event, the Duke of Sussex appeared to take on what some observers described as “journalistic duties,” a move that caught many by surprise.
Royal correspondent Cameron Walker expressed his astonishment at Prince Harry’s approach, particularly during a panel discussion featuring two winners of the Diana Legacy Award. Instead of delivering a traditional speech, Harry chose to engage with the panelists by asking them questions, which some viewed as unusual for a royal figure.
Commenting on the event during an appearance on GB News, Walker said, “It was weird, actually, because it wasn’t Prince Harry kind of talking to the crowd. It was him almost acting as a journalist and asking some young people questions, two young people who won the Diana Legacy Award.” He went on to note that the Duke’s decision to take on this role was unexpected, given his usual presence as a keynote speaker at events.
Walker also highlighted that many of the themes discussed during the panel revolved around mental health and climate change, which are causes close to Harry’s heart. The event coincided with UN Climate Week in New York, where Harry is set to participate in discussions on climate action.
During the summit, Prince Harry spoke passionately about mental health, emphasizing the universal impact of the issue. “It affects every single one of us, from the top to bottom, from the youngest to the oldest,” he remarked. He praised the award winners for their efforts in addressing mental health challenges, saying, “I think you guys are leading the charge in hopefully being able to break down the stigma to be able to continue these conversations.”
In an effort to reshape how society views mental health, the Duke of Sussex proposed an alternative term, suggesting that “mental health” should be rebranded as “mental fitness.” He explained that this change could help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage more people to seek support.
While Prince Harry’s commitment to mental health advocacy is well-known, his shift in style at the Concordia Summit—acting more like an interviewer than a speaker—raised eyebrows among royal watchers. His decision to take on a more journalistic role during the event has drawn mixed reactions, with some praising his ability to engage meaningfully with the award winners, while others questioned whether it was appropriate for a royal figure to adopt such a position.
As Prince Harry continues to champion causes like mental health and climate action, his evolving public role remains a topic of debate, with this latest appearance only adding to the discussion around his unique approach to royal duties.