Prince Harry is keeping his late mother, Princess Diana, close during his first trip back to the United States since relocating his family to the United Kingdom.
The Duke of Sussex made a surprise appearance in New York City on Thursday, September 24, at an event sponsored by The Diana Award, a charity dedicated to empowering young people in memory of the late Princess of Wales.
© JP YimDuring the appearance, Harry spoke about “the importance of supporting youth and young adults in the workplace, especially with regard to their mental health,” according to an attendee cited by People.
The engagement added a meaningful connection to Diana during Harry’s whirlwind return to the U.S. The Diana Award was established in memory of the late princess and recognizes and supports young people working to create positive change.
© Ken R. GoffHarry has maintained a longstanding relationship with the organization, which has also received support from his older brother, Prince William. The brothers have continued to honor their mother’s legacy in different ways in the nearly three decades since her death in 1997.
Diana remains close during Harry’s NYC trip:
Harry also reflected on his mother during another engagement in New York this week.
While speaking at the Skift Global Forum on Wednesday, September 23, the Duke recalled traveling to Botswana following Diana’s death and how his relationship with the African country evolved over the years.
© JP Yim“I first traveled [to Botswana] shortly after my mother’s death, and over the years I’ve continued to understand the Okavango not simply as an extraordinary place to visit,” Harry said. “But as a living system that sustains wildlife, communities and livelihoods.”
“That description captures something that we can easily forget when we talk about destinations as an industry,” he continued. “These places are not simply somewhere to travel to. They are home.”
© MirrorpixLater that day, Harry made another under-the-radar appearance at the National Geographic & De Beers Okavango Eternal event at Jardin de Sur Madison, where he appeared alongside Botswana President Duma Boko and National Geographic explorer and author Dr. Steve Boyes.
Boko acknowledged Harry’s longstanding connection to the country, describing the Duke as “a regular, almost a citizen of Botswana, particularly the Okavango Delta.” “We appreciate the work that you do,” the president added.
© Tim GrahamHarry returns to the U.S. after major family move:
The New York trip marks Harry’s first return to the United States since he and Meghan Markle relocated their family to Britain in late August.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved with their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, beginning a new chapter after years of living primarily in California. The family has retained its Montecito home and is expected to maintain ties on both sides of the Atlantic.
© Neil MockfordHarry has already resumed a busy schedule of public engagements since returning to Britain.
Earlier this week, he attended the 2026 WellChild Awards in London, where he spent time with young honorees and their families. Meghan did not attend the event but publicly supported her husband by sharing a video from the evening on Instagram.
Harry then traveled to New York, where his schedule included appearances at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting and the Skift Global Forum.
© Getty ImagesAt the Clinton Global Initiative on September 23, the father of two addressed concerns surrounding social media, technology and artificial intelligence, speaking about the potential impact on children and families.
“I come to this as a father,” Harry told the audience, “one who has shared countless conversations with other parents as they mourned the loss of their children to recklessly built technology.”
© WPA PoolHis surprise appearance at the Diana Award-sponsored event the following day brought the focus back to young people and mental health while providing another connection to his mother’s enduring legacy.
Harry and Meghan have not returned to their former roles as working members of the royal family following their move to Britain. Instead, the couple appears set to maintain a transatlantic life, with their charitable and professional work continuing to take them between the U.K. and the United States.
