Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made a surprise online appearance overnight at a book launch organised by their friend Oprah Winfrey.
The Montecito-based couple appeared via video link at the launch of An Amazing Generation, which was organised by Oprah Daily.
The book, written by Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price, is a children’s version of the bestselling The Anxious Generation, which was lauded for starting a world-changing conversation about the effects of smartphones and social media on young people – a topic close to the hearts of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Watch the video above.
Prince Harry and Meghan have made a surprise virtual appearance at a book launch. (Instagram/@oprahdaily)
A video of the couple speaking has since been shared on Instagram by Oprah Daily and one of the book authors.
“Prince Harry and @meghan made a surprise drop-in to our special launch event for @jonathanhaidt and @catherinepriceofficial’s new book An Amazing Generation,” the caption read.
“Tap the link in our bio to watch the Duke and Duchess of Sussex discuss one of the most pressing issues of our times.”
The royal couple were introduced during the hour-long launch, which was presented by Oprah’s best friend, broadcaster Gayle King, before Prince Harry launched straight in.
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The couple spoke about an issue close to their hearts. (Instagram/@oprahdaily)
“Over the years, we’ve worked with you on how the digital spaces [are] deeply affecting our collective and mental, emotional and physical health,” he said.
“And obviously a huge congratulations to you and the outcome of your research, which has created a parent-led movement, which is astonishing and much needed.”
Meghan then seemed to interrupt her husband to add, “And that we’re proud to be a part of”, before he continued.
“Yeah, hugely,” he agreed.
“The insights have been incredibly valuable over the years for our work with parents who have lost their children to online harms and working towards solutions to keep all children safe.”
Harry then asked the authors to speak about how “the phone-based childhood, as you call it, affects kids’ emotional development and what families can do to support healthier patterns”.
Later, Meghan reportedly told viewers social media companies were among the only businesses that described customers as ‘users’ – a term typically associated with drug addiction.
“We know in the work that we’ve done the tolls that digital pressures can take on young people and also the ripple effect that can have on families, parents, entire communities,” she said.
She also said screen time for young people often resulted in higher levels of anxiety and depression, and suggested families should consider embracing a New Year’s resolution of “less laughter emojis and more real laughter, and also less screen time”.
However, they also noted the back-to-school period could be challenging for parents.
Harry and Meghan walked away from royal life in 2020. (Getty)
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“We all know… as working parents, we want to create good habits that last for our children, but we also [have] got to be realistic about what we can do consistently,” Prince Harry said.
Harry and Meghan first joined the campaign around online safety for children in 2024 during the launch of The Parents’ Network, which brought together families affected by social media-related suicide or online harm.
Since then they have spoken out frequently on the subject and recently praised the Australian government’s decision to ban social media until the age of 16 via a statement via their Archewell Foundation.
“We celebrate Australia’s leadership for seeing and acting on how these technology companies are negatively impacting young people with little to no recourse or accountability, and feeble efforts from the companies to stem the flow of harms,” they said.
“This bold, decisive action to protect children at a critical moment in their development sends a strong signal that a child’s mind is not a commodity to be exploited.”
They largley keep their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, out of the spotlight. (Instagram/ @meghan)
While they said the ban “doesn’t fix the fundamental issue we all still face with social media platforms” it did buy “young people valuable time back in their childhoods”.
It is one topic the couple can agree on with the Prince and Princess of Wales, who have also spoken out on the subject.
Prince William recently revealed none of their three children currently have mobile phones and said when Prince George does get one it will likely be a model not connected to the internet.
The princess also recently implored parents to be more present in an essay she co-wrote with Harvard Professor Robert Waldinger entitled “The Power of Human Connection in a Distracted World”.
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