TRH the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at an Olympic committee reception
Born into a life of unimaginable privilege, Their Royal Highnesses Prince William and Prince Harry may have taken the choice to turn their backs on the world. Like some of our past royals, the young Princes could have rarely left the comfort of the Palace. Instead, following in the footsteps of their grandparents, parents, aunt, and uncles, Princes William and Harry have broken down the palace gates and are getting their hands dirty. The Princes have a passion for the less fortunate and are changing the world, one project at a time.
Many people credit their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, for their charitable nature and I’m not one to disagree. She changed the way, in my opinion, the new-generation royals view the world. I’m not trying to take anything away from the goodness of Diana, Princess of Wales, but instead, I want to examine HRH Prince Charles’ effect on his sons. With a single phone call to Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Charles could have put an end to William and Harry’s charity visits as young boys. Instead, he encouraged them. He chose to allow his boys the chance to live a “normal” life outside of the palace walls. They were the first royals to attend primary school with other children. Because of this, William and Harry saw first-hand how other people (albeit higher privilege children) lived. They learned from an early age that not everyone is as privileged as they are. This was the starting point in their caring ways. Together, Diana and Prince Charles raised wonderful, charitable men.
Prince William, as a direct heir to the throne, has the opportunity to choose charities that are not pushing the political boundary, but instead, he chooses issues that need more publicity, such as conservation. His recent CNN documentary (with Mr. Max Foster) was brilliant and brought a side of William that had never been seen to the forefront. As the tears (almost) flowed, one could see the passion and love that Prince William has for Africa, endangered animals, and Tusk Trust. He is keen to follow in his father’s footsteps to make our world more eco-friendly with charities such as Mountain Rescue. Prince William is also much his mother’s son in that he has a passion for addiction and young people. He is patron of a charity his mother helped place on the map: Centrepoint. We need more “Prince William’s” in this world.
Prince Harry supporting Walking with the Wounded
As the “spare,” Prince Harry has the opportunity to serve more than his brother. During his two Tours of Duty, Prince Harry allowed people with no familial connection to war a personal connection. We all waited and hoped for the best for this young man who we feel we know. Prince Harry’s time in Afghanistan gave new meaning to wartime struggle to many people, myself included. Serving Queen and Country is not easy, but it’s something that must be done. Harry, selflessly, put aside his life to ensure freedom for his country. Because he has first-hand experience with wounded soldiers, Prince Harry has thrown himself into the charity Walking with the Wounded and will soon be taking on a trek to the South Pole. He also does magnificent work with many other charities, including WellChild. Taking on charities that his mother once worked so fervently for, including Halo Trust and children with AIDS (think Sentebale), is a passion of Harry’s. Prince Harry, through his many patronages, is making the world we all call HOME a better place.
Despite being members of the most prestigious family in the world, Princes William and Harry are passionate about helping the less privileged and changing the world. If we could all be more like these charitable brothers and help all people, the world would be a much better place. Please join me in doing whatever you possibly can for a local charity. Let’s change the world!
photo credit: Achilles International, jennifersu via photopin
