The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have appeared in a surprise video to raise awareness about online child abuse.
In the video, Harry and Meghan both wore dark suits and red poppies in their lapels – a tradition the British royal family has worn every November to mark Remembrance Day, which honors soldiers who died in war. This is their first appearance together since nearly three months ago, when they visited Colombia in August at the invitation of Vice President Francia Márquez.
Harry and Meghan have issued a statement stressing the urgency of tackling online child abuse. The Sussexes believe that now is a crucial time to turn awareness into action.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex pose together after months of going their separate ways. Screenshot
“We are at a crossroads and the urgency to assess and redefine our approach to protecting children is clearer than ever,” Harry said. “While that need has always been there, now is the time to turn awareness into meaningful action.”
As Harry spoke, Meghan turned to look at her husband. Then, looking directly into the camera, she continued: “My husband and I have come to realize that life today is defined by connectivity, advanced technology. Of course, there are many positive aspects to that. But, it also forces us to understand more about how digital violence affects children in this modern age.”
Through the Archewell Foundation, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they have joined young people, families and experts around the world to better understand the range of impacts digital violence has on children’s lives.
As part of their commitment to creating a safer digital environment, Harry and Meghan also launched the Parents Network earlier this year. The initiative offers support for families dealing with the harmful effects of social media.
Harry – Meghan during a visit to Colombia on August 18. Photo: Archewell Foundation
Harry and Meghan’s video was broadcast at the Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Colombia on November 8. Previously, during their visit to the South American country in August, the Sussexes also focused their activities on promoting a safe digital environment.
At the end of the video, King Charles III ‘s youngest son says: “With the Archewell Foundation, my wife and I believe that the integrity of information is a fundamental right.” And Meghan concludes: “We should be setting an example of how we want our children to be raised and the world we want to raise them in. It doesn’t matter where you live. It doesn’t matter who you are. You or someone you know could be a victim online. And we can work hard every day to fix it.”