Prince Harry playfully admonished audience members for filming him on their phones during a surprise keynote speech in London. The Duke of Sussex was speaking at the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards on Thursday, advocating for sustainable travel through his non-profit initiative, Travalyst.
"All I can see is phones," Harry said with a laugh, referencing the audience's use of their devices. He founded Travalyst in 2019, emphasizing the imperative for the travel industry to protect the destinations it relies upon.
"I believe that an industry built on extraordinary places of our world has both a responsibility and a business imperative to protect them," Harry stated. He later posed for photos with award winners, including Germany, recognized for its sustainability efforts.
"I started Travalyst because I believe deeply in travel as a force for good," he explained. "But if tourism stops working for the people who call these destinations home, eventually it stops working for everyone. By collaborating as an industry, we can ensure nature survives and destinations thrive, while travel remains a source of prosperity, connection and exploration for generations to come."
The appearance came after a reported business meeting in New York City earlier in the week. Prince Harry is scheduled to travel to Europe with his wife, Meghan, for a visit to Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday. The couple is expected to attend an event unveiling a new version of the Lost Screen Memorial, an installation honoring children who have died due to online harm. They are also slated to deliver speeches on children's digital safety.
This public engagement follows recent international attention surrounding Meghan's estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., who is reportedly the subject of a probe into alleged child sex images. The Philippine National Police and the FBI are investigating files reportedly found in storage boxes belonging to Mr. Markle Sr. Meghan has stated that she cut off contact with her father to protect her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.