Prince Harry is making an unannounced visit to Ukraine this week, and one gesture he made to those who met him is a key sign that he has moved on from Royal life
Prince Harry is currently in Ukraine for a surprise visit, and one gesture he made to the people who came to meet him as he arrived in Kyiv has been described as a clear sign he’s departed from Royal life.
The 41-year-old son of King Charles and the late Princess Diana stepped off an overnight train from Poland to Ukraine’s capital on Thursday (23rd April) morning, where he will attend a security conference to urge the world not to lose sight of what the country is up against in its continued fight against Russian aggression.
Harry plans to make a speech at the Kyiv Security Conference to tell senior Western defence and government officials that the battle Ukraine is fighting is about more than just territory, and that the impact of the war will last “for years to come”.
But before he made his way to the conference, the Duke of Sussex was met by a warm welcome from Kyiv locals, who gathered at the train station to greet him. And to thank them for their hospitality, Harry did something that goes against traditional Royal protocol.
In a video shared on X by ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Harry could be seen giving members of the public a hug, which is something that isn’t typical in the Royal Family.
Traditionally, people aren’t allowed to touch a Royal unless one offered their hand. However, Princess Diana liked to hug members of the public when she met them.
It seems Harry has decided to follow in her footsteps and cast this rule aside so that he can give people a hug. Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, also previously described herself as a “hugger” during the Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan.
She explained that she didn’t realise a warm embrace can be “really jarring for a lot of Brits” who aren’t necessarily used to displays of affection in public. However, it seems the younger Royals are keen to break tradition – as even Harry’s older brother, Prince William, has been seen giving out hugs in the past.
In the video shared by Good Morning Britain, it was also claimed that Harry had told ITV News that he “doesn’t want the world to lose sight of what Ukraine is facing in its ongoing war with Russia“.
As well as speaking at the security conference, Harry will use his time in Ukraine to support his Invictus Games Foundation, which he founded for wounded veterans.
He will also see the dangerous work being carried out by The Halo Trust, which works to clear landmines and explosives from war-torn countries.
Prince Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, famously supported The Halo Trust during their work in Angola in 1997, shortly before her passing.
The Halo Trust employs 1,300 people for de-mining work in Ukraine, which is now its largest operation anywhere in the world, and Harry will follow in his mother’s footsteps as he takes a look at the vital work the organisation carries out.
He said: “I’m looking forward to seeing friends and reconnecting with the Invictus community again and standing alongside those helping Ukraine win this fight.”
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