Prince Harry said that it is up to young people to raise awareness of climate change as he spoke to guests at a garden party this afternoon.
The event was held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Commonwealth and the Duke of Sussex was attending in his role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.
After being greeted by Secretary-General, Baroness Scotland, he met winners of the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Innovation for Sustainable Development Awards.
The prizes celebrate the most outstanding young people developing solutions to overcome international challenges in areas including human rights, women’s empowerment and climate change.
One of the most moving winners was 18-year-old Leilua Lino from Samoa, a survivor of sexual violence. Before accepting her trophy, she bravely told the audience how she had been abused at the age of nine years old by her own father. She testified against him in court before he was sentenced to 29 years in prison.
Leillua has now created a Peace Garden designed to support others who have experienced similar experiences. Speaking afterwards, she said: "I was so happy to meet him and win this award. I told him why I was doing this and he told me that I was a very brave girl. I hope when I go back to Samua to continue to work and help others that are abused."
Before leaving the stage, she joked that she was going to invite Harry to Samoa, to which he grinned and clapped.
Christopher Nesbitt, the director of Maya Mountain Research Farm, was another winner.
Harry joked to him: "you’ve got a better beard than me!"
He gave Harry a t-shirt, awkwardly apologising if it was against protocol.
Having been asked if he would wear it, the Prince said: "Not here!"
After the awards were presented, Baroness Scotland gave a speech, saying: "As we all know – the best way to celebrate a birthday is not to look back on life but to look forward to all we can do in the years to come.
"So that is what we are doing today – and I can feel the vitality, the verve, the vibrancy which drive us forward towards the great things we know we can do together."
The Prince then went and met groups of young people working within various Commonwealth youth networks as well as Commonwealth Scholars.
Marion Osieyo recalled afterwards: "We mainly spoke about climate change. It’s great that he is using his influence to talk about subjects like this."
Gemma Nelson added: "He emphasised the importance of collaborating to help achieve our goals and that it is up to the youth of today to make changes. He said that two years ago, it wasn’t on anyone’s agenda, but he thinks it’s the passion of youth today making it an issue everyone should care about."
Pranjal Srisvastava said he was impressed with how Harry "seemed to know a lot about issues in Africa – poverty, HIV."
Meanwhile he talked to Tas Saad - there accompanying her husband – about baby Archie.
In response to her congratulations, he said: "He was a little baby and now he’s so big!"
She told him how her love for the Royal family began when she was ten years old growing up in Pakistan and reading about Princess Diana’s engagement to Prince Charles in the newspapers.
"He seemed very pleased," she said.
The Prince also asked young people what they wanted to do - and for their suggestions on how the Commonwealth could be improved.
Guests enjoyed music from the Melodian Steel Orchestra, dance performances from ACD Arts and ate canapes including tomato tostadas, spring lamb tacos, sausage rolls, prawn toast and sweet and sour broccoli ‘lollipops.’
