Prince Harry and King Charles Set Aside Their Differences in Rare Show of Unity
The moment felt all the more special given the ongoing strain between the Duke of Sussex and the wider royal family.
On the fourth anniversary of Russia and Ukraine’s war, Buckingham Palace and Prince Harry delivered messages that, although issued separately, shared the same tone of solidarity. The moment felt all the more special given the ongoing strain between the Duke of Sussex and the wider royal family, with Ukraine being an issue of contention in their rift. The parallel tributes signalled that some causes are bigger than others.
On February 24, King Charles’ office released a video on the royal family’s official Instagram account showing the Band of the Irish Guards performing Ukrainian music in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. The caption read, “Ukrainian music was performed at Buckingham Palace today by the Band of the Irish Guards to mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.” It was a public reaffirmation of Britain’s continued solidarity with Kyiv.
At the same time, Harry — who has lived in California since stepping back from frontline royal duties in 2020 — shared his own message of solidarity with Ukrainians on the anniversary. In a video released via social media and reposted by @superhumans center, the Duke praised the spirit he had witnessed during his visits to the country. He recalled his time at the Superhumans Center in Lviv, a rehabilitation clinic that provides prosthetic limbs, reconstructive surgery, and psychological care for wounded soldiers and civilians.
Speaking directly to Ukrainians, Harry said: “You have shown what true resilience looks like. You reminded us all that freedom and independence are never guaranteed. They must be defended when necessary… Please know: you are not alone. The world stands with you.”
Harry’s connection with Ukraine did not begin this year. Last September, after his much-discussed and dissected UK trip for the Well-Child Awards, to support wounded Ukrainian soldiers and civilians within the framework of his foundation’s work. And that the trip came shortly after a rare meeting with his father in London. His visit, however, was diplomatically sensitive. Reportedly, Harry also met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky during that September trip. According to The Guardian and journalists who accompanied him in Kyiv, after visiting the memorial to fallen soldiers on Independence Square, the Prince’s car separated from the motorcade for about an hour. When he rejoined his team, the Duke of Sussex “became reserved and silent.”
“There is suspicion that he went to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but neither he nor the president wants to admit it,” the outlet wrote. The report added that the British government had made it clear to Zelenskyy that he should not meet with a “rebellious member of the royal family” on the same day British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was also in Kyiv. In diplomatic circles, it was described as a move that “would be a puzzling political step.”
This could not have been a coincidence. The sequencing was hard to miss; the royal family delegated Princess Anne soon after, who made a surprise visit, to highlight the "traumatic experiences of children living on the frontline of the conflict.” She famously left a toy bear at a memorial for children killed since Russia's invasion, and spoke to young people alleged to have been taken from their homes by soldiers. She also discussed the UK's support for Ukraine and its ongoing resistance with President Zelensky.
Now, while the rift between Harry and the rest of the royal family may remain unresolved, on this issue, there appears to be no visible daylight between Montecito and Buckingham Palace.
