Prince Harry says ‘this has been a year of suffering, of a decade of suffering’ in UN Mandela Day speech | UK News

The Duke of Sussex used a speech at the United Nations to call what he described as a “global attack on democracy and freedom”.

In a speech to mark the International Nelson Mandela Day, Prince Harry listed the dangers of climate change, the coronavirus pandemic, “weapons of lies and disinformation”, war in Ukraine and even even alluded to abortion laws in the US, a topic that would have been restricted if he had remained a working member of the Royal Family.

Harrywho has a long personal relationship with the Mandela family, both personally and through his family, was asked by the Nelson Mandela Foundation to speak at the event at the United Nations General Assembly.

Watching his wife Meghan, he said: “This has been a year of suffering, a decade of suffering.

“We are living in a pandemic that continues to devastate communities in every corner of the world; climate change is ravaging our planet, with the most vulnerable, the few, armed. from the horrors of the war in Ukraine to the withdrawal of constitutional rights in the United States.

“We are witnessing a global assault on democracy and freedom – the cause of Mandela’s life.”

In his passionate speech, the duke went further than he had done on previous occasions when he had represented the Queen and the Royal Family.

Speaking about the climate crisis and its specific impact on regions of Africa, he called on world leaders to act with greater conviction that: “As I say, our world is our world. is burning again.

“These historic weather events are no longer historic. Increasingly, they become part of our daily lives, and this crisis will only get worse… unless our leaders take the lead.”

Delivering his comments across the Atlantic is his father Prince Charles, who says tackling climate change is “absolutely necessary” as the UK sinks in “alarming” temperatures.

Also making remarks – at an outdoor event to mark 70 years as Duke of Cornwall – Charles said national commitments to net zero had never been “more important than ever”.

“As I’ve been trying to point out for a while, the climate crisis is really a real emergency and addressing it is absolutely necessary.”

The Duke of Sussex in New York turned to admire Mandela, describing how important the photo was of his mother’s moment. Diana Princess Meet the former leader of South Africa.

He said he still has the painting today.

“On the wall and in my heart every day, is a picture of my mother and Mandela meeting in Cape Town in 1997.

“The photo was given to me by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, whose friendship and inspiration were a precious gift in their own right – my wife and I were honored to introduce our four-month-old son to him. it in 2019.

“When I first looked at the photo, immediately what touched me was the joy on my mother’s face; the cheerfulness, alertness, even… purity of being in communion with a spirit. Another soul is committed to serving humanity.

Harry ‘seeks solace’ after mother’s death

The duke continued: “Then I looked at Mandela. This is a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, asked to heal his country from the ruins of its past and transform it for future.

“A man has endured the worst of humanity – terrible racism and state-sponsored brutality. A man who spent 27 years with his children and family he loved. We’ll never get it back.”

Harry also recalled how important Africa was to him throughout his life and how he “find solace” there after the death of his mother.

“It’s where I feel closest to my mother and find solace after her death, and where I know I’ve found a soul mate with my wife,” he said. “

There has been surprise from some critics of the Sussexes that Harry has been asked to speak before the United Nations General Assembly following the controversy surrounding his decision to leave royal life.

The couple arrived at the United Nations event, smiling and holding hands, and ignored an American reporter’s question about biographer Tom Bower’s latest book Revenge: Meghan, Harry And The War Between The Windsors.