On Thursday evening, Prince Harry delighted attendees at New York City’s Time100 Sports Gala with an unexpected appearance and some personal family news.
Sources at the event shared with Page Six that the Duke of Sussex mentioned his father, who has been privately fighting an unspecified cancer since 2024, is “doing great.”
The same insider also caught the prince speaking fondly about his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. He noted that they are “happy” to be settled back in California following a short trip to the UK.
Harry amusingly remarked to a fellow guest that his children are “growing like weeds.”
Sharing his sporty side earlier on the red carpet, Harry spoke exclusively with Page Six, expressing his disappointment over England’s 1-2 loss to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals.
Harry’s appearance at the Time100 Sports Gala came as a surprise, with many guests jumping at the opportunity to speak to the royal.
Page Six obtained video of Harry, 41, meeting New York Knicks player Jalen Brunson, as the two shook hands and posed for photos.
Reps for Harry did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
During the event, he took the stage to deliver a speech about the Invictus Games, which he launched in 2014 to provide a multi-sport event for wounded military service veterans.
“It’s truly an honor to be here tonight to celebrate the power of sport,” the speech began. “I don’t just mean the big wins and historic moments. I mean the tough loses, the sacrifices, the moments that no one ever sees.
“Sport is where you first felt the essence of teamwork and community. It shaped your discipline, your drive and your very identity. It taught you to revel in the challenges and the joy of overcoming or defining the odds.”
He continued, “For many of you, sport shaped who you became. For me, sports instilled essential core values from a very young age. But it didn’t shape my identity as a young man; the British army did.”
Harry explained how he felt “lost” when he hung up his uniform, but turned to sports to help him cope.
“Sport isn’t just entertainment and competition; sport is medicine,” he inspiringly said.
The most influential athletes in global sports gathered on Thursday, including NBA legend LeBron James, who closed the evening with a speech, NFL icon Russell Wilson, Olympic ice skater Alysa Liu, alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn, “DWTS” pro Witney Carson and more.
The gala came just days after Harry’s reunion with his estranged family in the UK. He initially arrived alone after he was denied taxpayer-funded security.
But on Friday, Buckingham Palace announced Charles and Queen Camilla hosted Harry, Markle and their children at Highgrove House. This was the first time Charles, 77, has seen his grandkids since 2022.
Markle and the children did not make any public appearances during the visit.
The “Spare” author resigned from his royal duties in 2020 and moved to Montecito, California with his family.
Despite his recent return, he is still estranged from his older brother, Prince William.