Prince Harry made 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. The Duke of Sussex broke royal protocol in Ukraine on Thursday, 23rd April, by hugging members of the public who gathered to greet him at the train station in Kyiv.
Surprise Visit to Kyiv
The 41-year-old son of King Charles and the late Princess Diana arrived on an overnight train from Poland to Ukraine's capital. He is attending the Kyiv 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 deliver a speech to senior Western defence and government officials, emphasising 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'.
A Warm Welcome
Before making his way to the conference, Harry was met by a warm welcome from Kyiv locals who gathered at the train station. To thank them for their hospitality, he did something that goes against traditional royal protocol: he gave them hugs. In a video shared on X by ITV's Good Morning Britain, Harry could be seen embracing members of the public, a gesture that is not typical in the Royal Family.
Traditionally, people are not allowed to touch a royal unless the royal offers 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. His wife, Meghan Markle, also previously described herself as a 'hugger' during the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan. She explained that she did not realise a warm embrace can be 'really jarring for a lot of Brits' who are not 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.
Supporting Ukraine and Invictus
In the video shared by Good Morning Britain, it was also claimed that Harry told ITV News that he 'does not 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. Harry will follow in his mother's footsteps as he observes 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.'
