Prince Harry made a surprise appearance at the Time 100 Sports Gala in New York City on Thursday night, giving guests an update on his family.
A source exclusively told Page Six that the Duke of Sussex was overheard telling guests at the gala that his father, who has been battling an undisclosed battle with cancer since 2024, is “doing well.”
Spies also heard the royal family say they were “happy” to return to their home in California after a short visit to the UK, with his wife Meghan Markle and their children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.
Getty Images of Time
“Children are growing like weeds,” Harry gushed to his guests.
Earlier in the evening, Prince Harry spoke to Page Six on the red carpet and exclusively told him he was “of course” upset about England’s 2-1 loss to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals.
Prince Harry’s appearance at the Time 100 Sports Gala was a surprise, with many guests jumping at the chance to speak to the royal.
Page Six obtained a video of Prince Harry, 41, meeting New York Knicks player Jalen Brunson, shaking his hand and posing for a photo.
Representatives for Harry did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
During the event, he took to the stage to give a speech about the Invictus Games, which he launched in 2014 to provide a multi-sport event for injured veterans.
“It’s an honor to be here tonight and celebrate the power of sport,” the speech began. “I’m not just talking about big wins and historic moments. I’m talking about tough losses, sacrifices, and moments that no one has ever seen before.
“Sports was where I first felt the essence of teamwork and community. It shaped my discipline, my drive, my very identity. It taught me to enjoy challenges and the joy of overcoming challenges and defying adversity.”
He continued: “For many people, sport shaped who they are. For me, sport instilled essential core values from a very young age. But sport didn’t shape my identity as a young man. The British Army shaped it.”
Harry explained that when he took off his uniform, “I felt a sense of loss, but I turned to sport to help me overcome it.”
“Sports is not just entertainment or competition. Sports is medicine,” he said movingly.
Thursday brought together some of the most influential athletes in global sports, including NBA legend LeBron James, who ended the night with a speech, NFL icon Russell Wilson, Olympic ice skater Alisa Liu, alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn and “DWTS” professional Witney Carson.
The celebrations came just days after Prince Harry reunited with his estranged family in the UK. He was initially denied taxpayer security and arrived alone.
But on Friday, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Charles and Queen Camilla had invited Prince Harry, Ms Markle and their children to Highgrove House. It will be the first time Charles, 77, has seen his grandchildren since 2022.
Markle and her children were not seen in public during the visit.
The author of “The Spare” stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and moved with his family to Montecito, California.
Despite recently returning home, he remains estranged from his older brother Prince William.
