© 2026 ABC News

Harry, who is in Toronto for the Invictus Games, surprised 10,000 screaming young people at the Air Canada Centre in downtown Toronto.

Amid thunderous applause, Harry implored the next generation to make sure their voices are heard and that they celebrate each other's differences.

\"You know that differences of opinion, of circumstance, of race and religion are to be respected and celebrated,\" Harry said.

Prince Harry pledged to do what he can to ensure this generation's voice can be heard. Read his speech in full https://t.co/Y8iIGfTXlF pic.twitter.com/HGnjWEuvR0

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 28, 2017

Harry, the fifth in line to the throne, has vowed to carry on the legacy of his mother, the late Princess Diana, and use the platform he was given to inspire a new generation of leaders into public service.

\"PHOTO:
Mark Blinch/Reuters
PHOTO: Britain's Prince Harry speaks on stage about the Invictus Games during a "We Day" event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Sept. 28, 2017.
>

Harry, who started a charitable foundation with his brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law, Princess Kate, issued a rallying cry to the young crowd.

He encouraged them to ignore \"cynicism,\" say \"no to pessimism and apathy\" and believe that despite their age, they too, had the ability for their voices to be heard.

\"I promise you, that I will work to do everything I can to support you; to create a platform where your voices can be heard and your ideas taken seriously,\" he said. \"Sadly, I’m now part of a slightly older generation.\"

\"PHOTO:
Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images
PHOTO: Britain's Prince Harry speaks at the We Day event in Toronto, Ontario, Sept. 28, 2017.
>

He continued, \"But in the years to come I want to work with you to help encourage, identify and support the new generation of leadership, both local and global leaders. Here in Toronto -- with both WE day and the Invictus Games -- we are saying yes to optimism, yes to hope, and yes to belief.\"

WE Day is a global event that encourages millennials and future generations to instill change through social activism, The event is described by its organizer, WE Movement, as a \"celebration of young people committed to making a difference.\"

The thousands of young people who attend @WEMovement #WEDay events must earn their place through volunteering and public service.

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 28, 2017

Harry is in Toronto this week leading the 2017 Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style competition for injured service members he founded in 2014. The two previous Invictus Games were been held in London and Orlando.

This year's games will end Saturday with a closing ceremony featuring performers including Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen and Kelly Clarkson.

","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/prince-harry-delivers-message-young-people-phones/story?id=50159890","legacySlug":"/culture/story/prince-harry-delivers-message-young-people-phones-50159890","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"19:19","publishDate":"09-28-2017","updatedTime":"19:31","updatedDate":"09-28-2017","socialImage":{"alt":"Britain's Prince Harry speaks on stage about the Invictus Games during a \"We Day\" event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Sept. 28, 2017. ","credit":"Mark Blinch/Reuters","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/prince-harry-we-day-rt-mem-170928_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"9/28/2017 19:19:01 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":50159890,"headline":"Prince Harry's inspiring message to kids","mediaAssetTitle":"GMA_Harry at WE Day_170928","description":"Harry, 33, made a surprise appearance at WE Day.","duration":"0:28","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2017/09/170928_aptn_harry_popcorn_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["132055565","131830882","130993584"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"April 15, 2026","headline":"American influencer found dead in Tanzania","section":"News","slug":"/video/132055565","id":"132055565","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 8, 2026","headline":"Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","section":"News","slug":"/video/131830882","id":"131830882","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"March 12, 2026","headline":"Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","section":"News","slug":"/video/130993584","id":"130993584","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"Prince Harry's inspiring message to kids","description":"Harry, 33, made a surprise appearance at WE Day.","duration":"0:28","uploadDate":"09-28-2017","publication":"09-28-2017","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2017/09/170928_aptn_harry_popcorn_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2017/09/170928_aptn_harry_popcorn_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/prince-harry-delivers-message-young-people-phones-50159890"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131432442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131121474","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131247079","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131228784","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131178806","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131142257","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131046664","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131048076","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131033212","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130999943","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130971027","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"Prince Harry's inspiring message to kids","pubTime":"15:19","pubDate":"09-28-2017","modTime":"15:31","modDate":"09-28-2017","taxonomyTags":"none","id":50159890,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"Prince Harry's inspiring message to kids","mediaAssetTitle":"GMA_Harry at WE Day_170928","videoId":50159890,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/culture/story/prince-harry-delivers-message-young-people-phones-50159890"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/50159890","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/50159890","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};