Prince Harry attended a dinner hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in New York last weekend. His wife Meghan was noticeably absent.
Queen Mathilde of Belgium, actor Forest Whitaker, several heads of UN agencies and other dignitaries were present at an event honoring survivors of child violence.
They are all in New York for the UN General Assembly, which starts Monday morning in Manhattan.
Officials from countries including Sweden, Colombia, Zimbabwe, Georgia, Canada, Iceland and Brazil were also present, as well as survivors of child abuse to discuss this important topic.
The meeting came a day after Harry attended Kevin Costner’s charity concert alone at his beachside estate, all the way across the country in California, while Meghan was reportedly “ill.”
Prince Harry greets Queen Mathilde of Belgium at a high-level dinner on ‘Violence against children and its impact on mental health’ in New York City
The event was organised by the WHO and was attended by politicians including Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, pictured here next to Harry. Meghan was noticeably absent after missing actor Kevin Costner’s house party because she was ‘ill’ the day before
“Violence takes many forms – both physical and psychological – and each has a lasting impact on the people who experience it,” Will Poulter, the event’s master of ceremonies, told attendees.
‘There are a billion children worldwide who experience such violence. The statistics are staggering, but they reflect real lives.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that these children are protected.”
Also in attendance were well-known figures such as Whitaker and Shudu Musida, who, together with survivors, wrote an open letter last week urging world leaders to take urgent action to end violence against children.
This comes ahead of the first-ever global ministerial conference on ending violence against children, which will take place in Colombia in November.
Signatories to the letter included Harry, Mathilde and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who spoke extensively with the Duke of Sussex and actor during the event.
The Belgian royal family also addressed the crowd, calling for more action against children who face corporal punishment, bullying, online violence and sexual abuse.
Other forms of violence the group cites include gang violence, child marriage and child labor.
Forrest Whittaker was also present and can be seen here talking to Prime Minister De Croo and the Duke of Sussex
Harry is seen here with World Health Organization head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with actor Whitaker and Queen Mathilde
The Belgian royal posed alongside the star of The Last King of Scotland at the star-studded event, which comes just hours before delegates stream into Midtown Manhattan on Monday for the first day of the UN General Assembly.
The Belgian royal family also spoke to the crowd, urging that more must be done to help children who face corporal punishment, bullying, online violence and sexual abuse.
Meghan, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen after she championed initiatives to combat online bullying earlier this summer.
In August, the Duchess was seen lovingly holding her husband’s knee on the set of CBS News Sunday Morning as she detailed how she struggled with suicidal thoughts due to the abuse she endured as a working royal
She told presenter Jane Pauley how she hopes her candor will help young people around the world cope with similar feelings, while also asking her husband for support.
“When you’ve experienced pain or trauma, part of our healing process — and certainly mine — is being able to be very open about it,” Markle said as Harry, 39, looked on.
‘I’ve only had limited experience of my own, but I don’t think I want anyone else to feel that way.
“And I would never want anyone else to make these kinds of plans,” she added.
‘[A]and I would never want anyone else to be disbelieved.’
A source told the Mirror that she missed Costner’s Santa Barbara home because “she [was] sick and could not come’.
Well-known names such as Jeff Bridges, Rob Lowe and Pink were present.