Like mother, like son

rince Harry appears to be following in his mother Princess Diana‘s footsteps as he made an appearance in a new video for UNAIDS.

UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, strives to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In a new video screened at the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, Prince Harry was one of several famous faces calling on governments and donors to sustain life-saving investments to end AIDS.

It comes after Harry returned to his home in Montecito, California, following his recent four-day visit to the UK. During the trip, Harry made a string of charitable engagements, supporting causes close to his heart.

Prince Harry has championed many global AIDS initiatives (Credit: Cover Images)

Prince Harry appears in UNAIDS video

In the UNAIDS clip, the stars discuss the devastating impact of recent funding cuts and urge world leaders to recommit to beating AIDS.

UNAIDS’ new video features two HIV activists: South African influencer Andiswa Cindi, born HIV positive, and Mexican-born Fabian Quezada, who has been living with HIV since the age of 17.

They are supported by high-profile stars including basketball player Magic Johnson, actresses Charlize Theron and Thuso Mbedu, and Prince Harry.

They all highlight the need for global solidarity and sustained support to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Prince Harry appeared in a new UNAIDS video (Credit: UNAIDS/YouTube)
“Forty years ago, the world faced one of its deadliest threats: HIV,” Magic Johnson begins.

“A virus that, without treatment, led to AIDS,” Charlize Theron also adds.

Here, Prince Harry appears on the screen, reminding viewers: “That crisis was ignored because of stigma, shame and misinformation.”

He then continues: “Discrimination and criminalisation are pushing people even further from care.”

Continuing Princess Diana’s work

At his words, it is almost impossible not to think of his mother, Princess Diana, who was herself at the forefront of the fight to remove stigma surrounding HIV.

That crisis was ignored because of stigma, shame and misinformation.

In April 1987, Diana opened the UK’s first purpose-built HIV/AIDS unit, caring exclusively for patients infected with the virus, at Middlesex Hospital.
Princess Diana helped change how the world viewed HIV and AIDS (Credit: Cover Images)
Her small but groundbreaking gesture of shaking the hand of a man living with the illness, without gloves, famously challenged the widespread myth that the virus could be spread by touch.

This landmark moment, captured by the media, made a lasting impact on how the world viewed HIV and AIDS.

Like his mother, Prince Harry has been a powerful advocate for global efforts to end AIDS. He has supported initiatives in countries including Botswana and Lesotho.

“Without urgent action, we will slip backwards,” Prince Harry warns in the video. “We are already seeing drastic cuts to HIV prevention and treatment programs. This could lead to 4.2 million more unnecessary, preventable deaths by 2029.”

The video closes with the humanitarians sharing their united message: “The world must stand together to end AIDS before 2030.”