The British Royal Family does not usually speak on world affairs or political matters so Prince Harry was very careful with what he said, addressing an audience in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The Russia/Ukraine war has now gone on for over four years, with more than 500,000 people dead and over 2 million wounded or missing. Europe has not seen such a military conflict of this magnitude since the Second World War, some 80 years ago.

“I am not here as a politician, I am here as a soldier who understands service, as a humanitarian who has seen the human cost of conflict and as a friend who believes the world must not grow used to this war or numb to its consequences.”

What Prince Harry had to say was measured, thought out and he echoed the sentiment of many across the world who are calling on a humane approach to bring major military conflicts costing so many lives to be lost to an end.

His tone was not political but rather humanitarian. He called on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to end the war.

“President Putin, no nation benefits from the continued loss of life we are witnessing. There is still a moment now to stop this war, to prevent further suffering for Ukranians and Russians alike and to choose a different course.”

Turning his attention to the United States, which this year went into Caracas, Venezuela and captured President Maduro, waged air strikes on Iran and has said it is considering an invasion of both Greenland and Cuba, Prince Harry called on America as the world’s leading power to exercise good judgement.

Prince Harry continued: “ This is a moment for American leadership, a moment for America to show it can honour its international treaty obligations.”

Commenting on Prince Harry’s speech in Ukraine, which was met with rapturous applause, President Trump said, “ How’s his wife? Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK, that’s for sure. I think I’m speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry, but I appreciate his advice.”

Many people across the world have praised Prince Harry for his call for peace and an end to the war in Ukraine. Some even say this is a mature Prince Harry who should return to England and take his rightful place as a senior member of the Royal family, representing it in the twenty-first century. 

Responding to those who were surprised that he, as a member of the Royal family, would call out both Putin and the U.S., Prince Harry further explained: “I think the Overton Window has shifted somewhat over the last five years. What would worry me is if we lived in a world where anyone in my position or anywhere can’t speak about the very things  and the realities we are seeing and to hold those in leadership positions accountable, but also  be able to encourage more support where support is needed.”

“I think there’s a lot to be done. From my perspective, we need to be collectively as a global community, we need to feel empowered to be able to speak truth to power; it’s really that simple. It’s bad enough in this world today, feeling gagged that you can’t say these things, and everything becomes political. I fundamentally disagree with that. What we are witnessing and seeing is a humanitarian catastrophe in multiple parts of the world. People are speaking up. People will continue to speak up, and I would encourage more people to do the speaking up because, as I said, the vast majority of people want to see an end to these conflicts and an end to this endless division.”