The Duke of Sussex has stepped out in the American capital for a discussion about online safety, just hours before the King confirmed his US state visit
Prince Harry travelled to the East Coast of America for an event about online safety(Image: Getty Images)
Prince Harry has headed to Washington DC for an important event, just hours before King Charles confirmed he’ll be visiting the same city in just a few weeks. The Duke of Sussex spoke at a global conference hosted by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), which was described as “the world ’s largest annual gathering of digital responsibility professionals, attracting top experts in privacy, AI governance and cybersecurity law.”
Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have long made online safety, particularly for young people, a priority of their philanthropic work, attending several events on the topic and giving passionate addresses.
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Prince Harry spoke at the International Association of Privacy Professionals summit in Washington DC(Image: Getty Images)
In the US capital yesterday, Harry appeared on stage for the closing general session before participating in a discussion with Joe Jones, the organisation’s director of research and insights.
The Duke of Sussex’s appearance came just hours before his father King Charles announced he would be travelling to the United States in April, as his divisive state visit was confirmed by Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “On advice of His Majesty’s Government, and at the invitation of The President of the United States, The King and Queen will undertake a State Visit to the United States of America.
“Their Majesties’ programme will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence. The King will then continue to Bermuda to undertake His Majesty’s first Royal Visit as Monarch to a British Overseas Territory.”
King Charles has confirmed he will be hosted in the US by president Trump in late April(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
It will be the King’s first visit to the US as monarch and the first state visit by a British sovereign to America for nearly 20 years, since Queen Elizabeth II’s tour in 2007.
In the hours after the visit was confirmed, US president Donald Trump said: “This momentous occasion will be even more special this year, as we commemorate the 250th Anniversary of our Great Country. I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!” It was also confirmed by Prince Harry ’s spokesperson that he will not travel to the East Coast to visit his father during his rare stateside visit.
Harry’s appearance at the IAPP summit comes just days after Harry and Meghan issued a passionate statement after a US court found Meta and Google liable for a woman’s childhood social media addiction.
Harry will not visit Charles during the US state visit (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
In a landmark ruling last week in Los Angeles, a jury ruled that Google, owner of YouTube, and Meta, which operates Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, build their platforms to keep children addicted using tailored algorithms, without regard for their well-being.
In response to the ruling, Harry and Meghan issued a statement which said: “This verdict is a reckoning. For too long, families have paid the price for platforms built with total disregard for the children they reach.
“We stand with every parent and young person who refuses to be silenced. Today, the truth has been heard and precedent has been set. Let this be the change – where our children’s safety is finally prioritised above profit.”
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