Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make first joint appearance in three months in video about online violence against children

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made their first joint appearance in over three months, as the Sussexes shared a new video message yesterday evening. 

Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, both wore dark blazers with poppy pins fastened on their lapels, in a video message about online violence against children – a cause that is deeply important to them. 

Meghan’s navy blue blazer is believed to the Parker Wool Crepe Jacket from Ralph Lauren.  

After their two-minute speech, they shared a sweet moment as Harry affectionately wrapped his arm around Meghan. 

The video message was played at the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Colombia, as the Duke and Duchess called for greater protections for ‘the most vulnerable in our world’ against the threat of digital violence and harm.

Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, both wore dark blazers with poppy pins fastened on their lapels, in a video message about online violence against children

Their last official appearance together was in August, when Harry and Meghan embarked on a four-day tour of the South American country. 

The new video message appears to have been filmed in California, where the Sussexes reside with their children, Archie and Lilibet. 

Harry opened their address at the inaugural ministerial conference on ‘ending violence against children’ by saying: ‘We are at a crossroads where the urgency to reassess and redefine our approach to protecting children has become increasingly evident. 

‘While the necessity has always been apparent, it is now time to translate that awareness into meaningful action.’

Meghan added that while ‘greater connectivity and advanced technology’ have obvious advantages, they also ‘compel us to better understand how digital violence against children is manifesting itself’ in 2024. 

She continued: ‘At the Archewell Foundation, we engage with young people, families, and experts worldwide learning how every aspect of a child’s life – from their livelihood to their physical and mental wellbeing – now operate within an online economy that has the power to both shape, and misshape, our connections.’ 

Harry and Meghan launched the Parents’ Network, an online campaign aimed at tackling harm caused to children online, in August this year.  

Their initiative aims to help offer a ‘safe and supportive community [which] is available to all caregivers navigating the complex digital world’. 

Harry opened their address by saying: ‘We are at a crossroads where the urgency to reassess and redefine our approach to protecting children has become increasingly evident’

Meghan added that ‘advanced technology… compels us to better understand how digital violence against children is manifesting itself’

According to the Sussexes’ Archewell Foundation website, this group includes those who ‘have first-hand knowledge of the pain and destruction caused by social media use’.

Speaking about the Parents’ Network on Thursday, November 7, Harry described it as a ‘support network for families dealing with online harm’. 

He continued: ‘Through trauma-informed practices, we help parents come together to forge strong bonds, offering healing support through community with the ultimate goal of prioritizing safety at the source.’

Meghan added that while it’s important for parents to ‘establish norms around the use of and access to technology’, it’s imperative to formulating standards and regulations that ‘prioritise children’s safety’. 

Prince Harry ended their message with an urgent call-to-action: ‘Young people are calling for help. Families are desperately seeking support. 

‘They are urging us to leverage the resources in this room to confront the new reality our youth are facing.

‘We look forward to the actions and outcomes of the discussions that will take place here in Colombia, and are grateful for the leadership, expertise, and testimonies that will come together in this room to address all forms of violence targeting the most vulnerable in our world.’ 

Meghan added: ‘Together we can harness this moment to drive lasting change.’ 

Harry and Meghan gave their first broadcast interview together in three years this August, when they sat down with CBS News host Jane Pauley to discuss the Parents’ Network initiative. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle interviewed on CBS Sunday Moring about the dangers of social media and suicide ideation 

During the interview, the couple said they want to ‘be a part of change for good’ when it comes to the ‘online space’. 

The campaign, which carries the slogan #NoChildLostToSocialMedia, includes a video which has been posted on the Foundation’s website and features parents who have lost their children to suicide because of online harm. 

In addition, a list of three guides has been posted on the site, each tackling a social media platform, including Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.

The guides are described by the site as being ‘repurposed in partnership with The Social Media Victims Law Center’.

Compiled using information from the Center’s online social media guides, they include information about what each platform is used for, and how caregivers can ‘improve their child’s safety’ while they are using them.

Earlier this year, Harry and Meghan released a clip urging social media companies to restrict the amount of harmful content children see online. 

On 31 January, they released the video of their appearance at a World Mental Health Day discussion in New York in October last year. 

They issued the video on their Archewell website following a US Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child safety which took place in Washington yesterday – and saw politicians warn social media giants: ‘You have blood on your hands’.

Harry and Meghan’s last official appearance together was in August, when they embarked on a four-day tour of Colombia

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle put on a stylish show before hosting a World Mental Health Day event in October 2023

In the video – released with a statement on online child safety – Meghan said: ‘When the car was first invented, there wasn’t a seatbelt. And what happened? People started to get hurt, people started to die. So you started to change the car.’

Harry says: ‘We need to get out of this idea that young kids, there’s something wrong with them. No, it’s the world that we’re allowing to be created around them. Please stop sending children content that you wouldn’t want your own children to see.’ 

The video dates back to October 10 last year when the Sussexes urged social media companies to reduce the amount of harmful content children see online to protect their mental health.

Harry and Meghan made the remarks at a mental health awareness festival run by non-profit Project Healthy Minds in New York.

The royal couple, who have spoken about their own mental health issues, took part in a panel discussion alongside US surgeon general Vivek Murthy moderated by NBC host Carson Daly, who has spoken of his struggles with anxiety.

The event, on World Mental Health Day 2023, was co-ordinated by the Archewell Foundation.

The couple called on social media firms to adopt better content moderation policies and tweak apps which can prove addictive for youngsters.

They spoke after hearing from parents who have lost children to mental health issues linked to social media use.

The Duke urged tech bosses to ‘stop sending children content you wouldn’t want your own children to see’.

Taking to the stage at the event, Meghan admitted that she had been left in tears by some of the ‘devastating’ stories shared by the parents who took part in the summit

Meanwhile Harry thanked all of the mothers and fathers who offered to speak out about the losses that they have suffered 

The Duchess said she and her husband are focusing on what they can do behind the scenes to make social media use ‘safer, better and more positive’ and that the couple have spoken to tech executives about the issue.

She added: ‘People are getting hurt – and people, specifically children, are dying.

‘A year ago we met some of the families, not all of them. At that time, it was impossible to not be in tears as I’m sure so many of you have been today hearing these stories.

‘As parents, our kids are really young – they’re two-and-a-half and four-and-a-half – but social media is not going away.

‘I think by design, there is an entry point that is supposed to be positive, in creating community and something has devolved, and there is no way to hear that and not try to help these families have their stories be heard.’