Prince Harry made a surprise appearance at a black-tie gala supporting Ukraine in London on Thursday evening, while his estranged brother, Prince William, delivered a virtual message to another charity ball just a few miles away.
The Duke of Sussex smiled and waved to cameras as he arrived at the United for Freedom gala at the Imperial War Museum in central London.
In west London, meanwhile, the Prince of Wales lent his support to the inaugural Bowelbabe Fund Rebel Ball at the Hurlingham Club. The event was held on what would have been Dame Deborah James’s 45th birthday.
William had spent the day in Wales, but sent a recorded video message to the fundraiser, praising Dame Deborah’s “rebellious hope” and the extraordinary fundraising legacy she left behind.
The royal diary clash came as Harry undertook another public engagement in Britain after he and his family returned to the UK in late August.
Earlier on Thursday, Meghan launched a £112 ($148) advent calendar in her first commercial venture since relocating. Featuring 24 gourmet chocolates said to be inspired by her Montecito home and garden, the calendar also contains a festive illustration of the £11million mansion where she and Harry lived for six years.
Harry has continued to focus on his charitable work. The United for Freedom gala raised funds for organisations supporting Ukraine, as the war reached its fourth year earlier this year.
The Duke of Sussex smiled and waved to cameras as he arrived at the United for Freedom gala at the Imperial War Museum in London
Harry spoke about the historic links between Britain and Ukraine before describing his own experiences during recent visits to the war-torn country
The Prince of Wales laughs in Abergavenny, Wales, yesterday. He later spoke at the inaugural Bowelbabe Fund Rebel Ball, praising Dame Deborah’s spirit and humour
Prince William with Dame Deborah James in May 2022, shortly before her death
At the London gala, Harry discussed the historical ties between Britain and Ukraine before reflecting on what he had witnessed during recent trips to the country.
“I have seen something in Ukraine that makes it impossible for me to look away. I have met people who have lost limbs, lost homes and lost loved ones – and yet somehow find the strength to rebuild,” the Duke said.
Harry also paid tribute to the resilience of Ukrainians, who defend the frontline while keeping businesses and schools operating and “developing technology that is changing the nature of modern warfare”.
He continued: “But their resilience should never become an excuse for the rest of us to tolerate their suffering. Ukrainians should not have to prove, year after year, just how much they can endure.
“Their courage deserves more than our admiration. It deserves our resolve.”
Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales was taking part in an event just six miles away at Fulham’s Hurlingham Club.
Guests were shown a surprise pre-recorded video message from William during the inaugural Bowelbabe Fund Rebel Ball.
The gala was held on what would have been campaigner Dame Deborah James‘s 45th birthday. She died from bowel cancer in June 2022. The event raised money for the late journalist’s charity and Cancer Research UK.
Paying tribute to Dame Deborah, William said: “What struck me was Deborah’s positivity and humour in the face of adversity – what she liked to call ‘rebellious hope’.”
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He went on to describe Dame Deborah as ‘an amazing woman’ and said her Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK had achieved so much in the last four-and-a-half years, investing in pioneering research that was ‘giving more people more time with the ones they love’.
Heir to the throne William told guests including Dame Deborah’s friends and family: ‘Tonight would have been Deborah’s 45th birthday and I know she would have wanted everyone dancing, celebrating and making memories.’
Meghan has launched a £112 advent calendar featuring an illustration of her California home, in her first commercial project since returning
The fundraising ball, which was hosted by TV presenter Gaby Roslin in London, featured performances by Sophie Ellis Bextor and the West End cast of the production Disco Inferno.
Dame Deborah’s husband Sebastien Bowen said: ‘On what would’ve been Deborah’s 45th birthday, we wanted to honour her memory and the Rebel Ball captured so much of what made her special: her energy, her courage and her ability to bring people together behind a cause she believed in.’
The Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK supports cutting-edge research and raises awareness of bowel cancer.
It was launched by Dame Deborah in May 2022 with an initial target of £250,000.
The You, Me And The Big C podcast host, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016, was given a damehood for her fundraising efforts, which soared into the millions.
The honour was personally conferred by William, who joined her family for afternoon tea and champagne while she was receiving hospice-at-home care, just weeks before she died at the age of 40.
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan’s spokesman has claimed that international paparazzi who were seen looking into the grounds of Archie and Lilibet’s school were ‘extraordinarily reckless’ and accused them of an ‘unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children’.
Two young men with backpacks and using a white van are understood to have been spotted by private security and school staff walking the perimeter of the school and monitoring children.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at a David Foster Foundation event in Canada on August 7
A spokesman for the Sussexes called the actions ‘an extraordinary lack of judgment’ in the wake of the suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford, with a number of American children with families connected to the base said to attend the school.
Harry and Meghan, who returned to live in the UK just over a month ago, are waiting to hear whether they will be given taxpayer-funded security.
They pulled Archie and Lili out of their first-choice British school in September after just two days when heavy traffic in the area meant their private security team struggled to stay in a convoy during the school run.
The Sussexes stepped down as working royals in 2020 for personal and financial reasons but rumours remain rife as to why they unexpectedly relocated to the UK from California.
Speculation ranges from the couple wanting their children to develop a closer relationship with their grandfather King Charles, Meghan seeking a return to acting and the Sussexes wanting to increase their profile.
In the run-up to their return, Charles was said to be glad to be able to spend more time with the family but remained adamant they would not be working royals, and there was no half-in, half-out option.
Within two weeks of arriving, there was reported pushback from Harry and Meghan after a letter, authorised by the King, was circulated by the Lord Chamberlain to senior stakeholders in the Government and military reiterating the couple were ‘private citizens’ and setting out guidance on how they should be treated.
The duke and duchess were said to be ‘surprised’ by the formal letter and the couple, who are waiting to hear whether they will be given taxpayer-funded security, were reported to prefer the term ‘public figures’ instead.