Prince Harry honours young leaders, including three Aussie achievers, at a ceremony in London
PRINCE Harry has urged people to use social media for good instead of getting bogged down in its negativity, while paying tribute to inspiring Aussies.
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PRINCE Harry has urged people to use social media for good as he joined Australians and others from around the Commonwealth to celebrate inspirational work by young people.
The Prince joked as he mingled with representatives of 36 Commonwealth countries who gathered in Australia House in London, at an event for the Queen’s Young Leaders awards.
At an earlier speech at a ceremony for the winners in Buckingham Palace, the 32-year-old Prince described himself as one of those “who can no longer hand-on-heart call ourselves young”.
But he praised those who embraced digital technology and social media to improve the world instead of bullying or spreading hate.
“We are better connected than ever before — this can make the world seem a faster, more complex, and challenging place. And too often it can make us all feel pessimistic about the future,” Prince Harry said.
“But that’s not what I see. At home and abroad, I see people — especially young people — doing incredible things.
“Young people are using this technology more than ever to be a force for good and positive change in their communities.”
Prince Harry has joined the #Queensyoungleaders for dinner at @AusHouseLondon It's also a chance for him to learn more about their projects pic.twitter.com/h3JR0xKJ73
— Queens Young Leaders (@QueensLeaders) June 29, 2017
The Prince made the comments at prize ceremony for young people to recognise inspirational work ranging from tackling bullying in schools to preserving the environment.
The winners aged between 18 and 29 were handed awards by the Queen at a ceremony, which was broadcast on Facebook Live.
Prince Harry then travelled to Australia House, where he was welcomed by High Commissioner Alexander Downer for a celebratory dinner.
He was also greeted by Australian comedian Adam Hills who told the assembled crowd he had never been in one room with so many people he had made jokes about in the past.
Australian singer Lucy Mason performed her single “Hunger” at the dinner, where the Prince and other guests dined on Australian kingfish and striploin beef and drank wines from Jansz Tasmania and Yalumba.
Australians Abdullahi Alim, Madeleine Buchner and Jordan O’Reilly, were among those to greet the Prince as they discussed their work on counter-extremism, support for carers and helping people with disabilities.
Ms Buchner — who won her award after she set up a charity for young carers of family members with a chronic illness, mental illness, disability or addiction — sat next to the Prince throughout the dinner and spoke to him at length.
The award was launched in 2014 by the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry to promote young people’s charitable work that changes their communities.
The final award will be given next year.
Sixty young people have been chosen as winners each time — one to represent each year the Queen served as Head of the Commonwealth at the time of her Diamond Jubilee.
Originally published as Prince Harry honours young leaders, including three Aussie achievers, at a ceremony in London
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