Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were named Humanitarians of the Year at the Project Healthy Minds Gala in New York City on Thursday. The duo thanked audiences for their support while sounding a warning about the growing danger children face online.
During the speech, Meghan highlighted her own children, Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, saying they are still too young for social media but will soon be “at risk.” She urged parents to balance technology’s benefits with protective measures, noting that the gap between the two is shrinking fast.
Harry spoke directly to the crowd, calling the exploitation of kids online “one of the most pressing issues of our time.” He cited a study from ParentsTogether that found children encounter harmful AI‑chatbot interactions every five minutes. “These are not just third‑party problems,” he said. “They’re coming from companies’ own bots designed to push reckless agendas.” He added that families do not face this alone and asked for collective action.
Both starstars credited the Archewell Foundation, which they launched in 2020 with a focus on mental health and overall wellbeing in the digital age. “We knew this movement needed to grow,” Harry explained. “Children are fighting against powerful corporations and data‑driven algorithms that harvest their information at all costs.”
The red‑carpet moment was a rare public appearance for the Sussexes in New York. Meghan wore a minimalist all‑black Armani suit, a plunging blazer, gold chain necklace and stud earrings, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Harry matched her look in a black suit, white shirt and tie.
The accolade comes just days after Chad severed ties with a charity linked to Prince Harry, citing “a recurring indelicate and disrespectful attitude toward the government.” The move followed concerns that the conservation‑focused African Parks group had not brought enough investment to protect wildlife reserves.
Despite the diplomatic setback, Prince Harry and Meghan’s message at the gala centered on protecting children’s safety online and rallying families and policymakers around this critical issue.
Source: New York Post
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