Harry and Meghan Make a Surprise Appearance With Oprah 5 Years After Bombshell Interview

For a couple known for being deliberate about when — and why — they step into public view, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s latest appearance came with little warning and a clear purpose. Their surprise involvement in a high-profile media event intended to draw focus to an issue they have increasingly placed at the centre of their lives: digital harm.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex surprised audiences by turning up at an event organized by Oprah Daily, marking the launch of a book titled An Amazing Generation. This book is a publication involving Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price, and its key theme revolves around how teenagers can help to reclaim life offline. This issue aligns with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's longstanding concerns about digital harm.

The pair participated via video link, joining the two authors to discuss the pressing need for healthier online behavior. The two were seated together, slouching comfortably on the couch as Harry wore a quarter-zip fleece sweater, while Markle was clad in pink. “It was nice to get them here for the conversation that was relevant to them personally," a source told PEOPLE. This was no 'state visit.' 

The issue was brought up on the heels of a moment in which Harry took the chance to emphasize how committed they are to the issue. “We’ve worked over the years with you on the issues that the digital environments are having on the collective mental, emotional, physical health, and so on,” he began, before leading into a message of congratulations for the work the authors had produced.

Markle then echoed the sentiment, keeping her contribution brief. “And that we’re proud to be a part of,” she added, reinforcing the idea that this was not a one-off appearance. The couple also briefly touched on family life, with Markle offering a glimpse into how some of Haidt and Price’s ideas have found their way into their own home with Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.

Reflecting on one point that resonated in particular, she highlighted the value of real, shared joy over digital substitutes. “You were saying, you cannot replace the feeling of a deep, guttural belly laugh,” she said. “An emoji laugh is not the same physiological response that we need, that our kids need.” She added that encouraging children to play more offline has a ripple effect at home. “What I love is that the more we encourage our children to do this, we mimic those same behaviors. We also start to play, and we also start to be more present.”

The conversation also touched on the more harrowing side of the digital world — something Harry referenced directly. He said, "The insights have been incredibly valuable over the years for our work with parents who have lost their children to online harms, and [our work] working towards solutions to keep all children safe." That work has taken shape most visibly through The Parents’ Network, launched in 2024 through their charitable organisation, Archewell, now operating as Archewell Philanthropies.