Prince Harry Holds Back Tears in Surprise Emotional Outing: 'None of You Should Be Here'
Prince Harry was speaking to grieving parents who had lost their children to social media–related harm, a cause close to his heart.
Trigger Warning: This article contains themes of suicide that some readers may find distressing.
Prince Harry has never shied away from condemning social media bullying and online harm, especially when it ends in the loss of a young life. Having firsthand witnessed its toll on Meghan Markle, the Duke of Sussex has long urged platforms to prioritize safety over chasing engagement and profit. In that spirit, he made a stop in Los Angeles on February 11, where he grew visibly emotional, fighting back tears as he addressed grieving parents whose children were lost to social media-related harm.
'None of you should be here'
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) February 12, 2026
Prince Harry has joined British families in Los Angeles, who say their children died after using social media, as a landmark court case in the United State accused Instagram and You Tube of creating "addiction machines"https://t.co/ZlTln0bkeZ pic.twitter.com/bjN8o7sOYt
In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by BBC Breakfast, the father of two choked up as he told the families, "None of you should be here," drawing a parallel to his own emotional time in courtrooms. In January, he appeared in a London court to testify against the publisher of the Daily Mail, accusing the media group of unlawful information gathering. There, too, he grew tearful as he recalled the emotional toll the tabloid coverage had on Markle.
The parents that Harry addressed have filed a legal challenge against Instagram and YouTube, with a major trial set to examine whether the platforms contributed to the poor mental health of the lives lost.
In his emotional address, the Prince said, "I've been in some similar situations myself, vastly different, but when you're sitting [in court] and if you have that feeling of just overwhelming emotion, because you can't believe that the people on the other side are saying what they're saying, that by the very nature of defending what they're defending, the lies that they are stating, is devaluing life, is devaluing your children's lives." Thanking the families for raising their voices, he stressed that truth, justice, and accountability are the three things that will come out of their efforts to protect the young and vulnerable.
The Duke stood alongside British families who had traveled to California for the launch of the case. Opening statements commenced this week in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, where Instagram and YouTube addressed claims that their platforms are intentionally designed to addict children. Instagram head Adam Mosseri took to the stands on February 11, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expected to testify next week.
Harry's decision to show solidarity with the court case wasn't an isolated incident where he addressed the ill effects of social media. Earlier, during the NYC Lost Screen Memorial in April 2025, he said, "Social media is quietly taking our children, and those with the power to make change are failing to act. We want to make sure that things are changed so that... no more kids are lost to social media," adding that he was 'grateful' that his children were too young to be online.
If you are having thoughts about taking your own life, or know of anyone who is, please contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
