Prince Harry returns to public and remembers mother Diana

Radiant and very elegant, in a black velvet tuxedo, white shirt and bow tie: so the Prince Harry he showed himself publicly for the first time in this 2024 which has just begun, albeit not in the company of his wife Meghan. The occasion? THE Living Legends of Aviation Awards, celebrated annually by the non-profit organization Kiddie Hawk to honor those who have made and make significant contributions to aviation and aerospace.

A statement on the Awards website reads: “Prince Harry is a humanitarian, a military veteran, an advocate for mental wellbeing and an environmentalist. He has dedicated his life to advancing causes that he is passionate about and that bring about permanent change for people and places.” Harry, in fact, was not only awarded for his military service, but also for his global work in promoting ex-servicemen with the Invictus Gamesmilitary mental health advocacy, and global philanthropy.

The event, held on the evening of January 19 at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Los Angeles, arrived at a less than rosy moment for the British royal family: overseas, Kate Middleton is hospitalized at the London Clinic after abdominal surgery and Re Carlo will have to undergo prostrate surgery. Thousands of kilometers away, however, Harry, awarded during the evening for his contribution to aviation as a British Army veteran and pilot (specifically he completed two missions in Afghanistan as an advanced air controller and Apache helicopter pilot), he made no mention of the health of the royal relatives.

Taking the stage, he first of all gave special thanks to the evening's presenter John Travolta who, we all remember, was the protagonist of a legendary ball in 1985 at the White House with Lady Diana. The star of Grease she was one of the biggest supporters of Harry receiving the award. The star has a strong bond with Harry precisely by virtue of her friendship with her mother Diana

Getty photo

«I was only one year old when you danced with mom in the White House and now look at us! The only thing left to do is… Not to dance, but to fly together.” said the Duke of Sussex, adding that he felt proud to have joined such a dynamic and inspiring group of characters.” «For me, flying is a transcendent experience. A close encounter with magic, an invitation to both protect freedom and feel free…I find my three-year flight training to be one of life's greatest lessons, capable of unleashing a wide range of feelings within me,” he added. And he then noted that «while this award recognizes the achievements of individuals, it is important to remember that aviation only progresses by celebrating all people that stand out in it. Extraordinary feats continue to be achieved, literally proving that the sky is no longer the limit.”

The emotional prince thus took a place alongside other aviation legends, including first moon landing astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong. When you really say touch the sky with a finger.