Prince Harry says he ‘will always be part of the royal family’ and claims he is ‘working’ in Ukraine, six years after infamous Megxit split

Prince Harry today insisted he will “always be part of the Royal Family” and denied claims he is no longer a royal family employee, arguing he was “born to do” activism work.

The Duke of Sussex also called on world leaders to show ‘appropriate leadership’ to end the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, which have been interpreted as targeting Donald Trump.

Harry, 41, who left royal staff in 2020, said: ITV News ‘We need to feel strong to speak truth to power,’ he said in an interview filmed in Ukraine.

Asked if the shackles were now off, he said: ‘It’s bad enough in today’s world to feel gagged and told you can’t say these things and you can’t say that.

‘Everything becomes political. I fundamentally disagree with this. It’s a humanitarian catastrophe that we’re seeing in many parts of the world… and I encourage more people to speak out.’

Harry was visiting Ukraine to support work with the Halo Trust, which is clearing landmines almost 30 years after his mother Princess Diana’s trip to Angola in 1997.

Asked whether ongoing international conflicts worry him as a father, Harry agreed and said: ‘The future looks bleak.’

He added: ‘Everyone is worried about what’s potentially coming soon, but also about what’s happening right now… The vast majority of the global population wants these conflicts to end. ‘There is less talk about war, more talk about peace’.

Prince Harry laid flowers on the grave of an unidentified Ukrainian soldier killed in battle today

The interview follows President Trump’s comments that Harry ‘does not speak for the UK’ after the Duke told the US to honor its obligations in the Ukraine conflict.

Responding to Harry’s previous speech in Ukraine yesterday, Mr Trump told reporters last night: ‘I know one thing, Prince Harry is not speaking for the United Kingdom, that’s for sure. I think I speak more for the United Kingdom than for Prince Harry.’

“But I really appreciate his advice,” he added. Mr Trump continued to ask: ‘How’s it going? How is his wife? Please give him my regards.’

Harry gave a long and exciting speech at the Kiev Security Forum yesterday, saying he was here ‘not as a politician’ but as ‘a soldier who understands service’ and a ‘humanitarian’.

In a rare foray into global affairs, the King’s youngest son turned his attention to the United States (though he did not mention Mr. Trump by name), urging “American leadership” to “fulfill its international treaty obligations” as part of its “enduring role in global security.”

Harry said: ‘The United States has a unique role in this story. Not only because of its power, but also because America is part of the assurance that Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders will be respected when Ukraine gives up nuclear weapons.

‘This is a moment for American leadership, a moment for America to show that it can fulfill its international treaty obligations; ‘Not for the sake of charity, but for its enduring role in global security and strategic stability.’

Harry’s unannounced visit – his third trip to Ukraine since the start of the war in 2022 – comes just days after he wrapped up a tour of Australia with wife Meghan Markle.

Harry stopped in the UK on his trip to Ukraine, but only to transit.

The King and Queen will travel to the US on Monday for a four-day visit to meet Mr Trump.

The president said the visit could ‘absolutely’ improve relations with Britain damaged by the Iran war.