Prince Harry Makes Emotional Speech At 'Vax Live' Concert, Says Vaccines 'Must Be Distributed To Everyone Everywhere'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who teamed up with the biggest names in music and politics for the Global Citizen's VAX Live: The Concert to Reunited the World, are working hard to get the COVID-19 vaccines distributed to everyone around the world.
The Duke of Sussex, 36, took part in the taping for the upcoming concert, which will be broadcast on May 8, at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Harry's pregnant wife — who is expecting the couple's second child, a girl, over the summer — was not in attendance.
Harry began his address by praising the frontline workers who have been tirelessly helping others since the pandemic first plagued the world over one year ago.
"Hi everybody. We are at a defining moment in the global fight against COVID-19. Tonight is a celebration of each of you here, the vaccinated frontline workers in the audience and the millions of frontline heroes around the world," the red-headed prince said.
He highlighted how the frontline workers have spent "the last year battling courageously and selflessly to protect us all," before thanking them. "You served and sacrificed, put yourselves in harm's way and with bravery knowing the costs. We owe you an incredible depth of gratitude."
Despite the success seen in recent months, Harry said we still have a long way to go — and called upon the public to do their part in the fight to end the pandemic.
The "pandemic cannot end unless we act collectively with an unprecedented commitment to our shared humanity," he explained before insisting: "The vaccine must be distributed to everyone everywhere. We cannot rest or truly recover until there is fair distribution to every corner of the world."
According to Harry, we cannot fail to distribute the vaccines to everyone, as that is the start to the hopeful end of the pandemic. "The virus does not respect borders and access to the vaccine cannot be determined by geography," he continued. "It must be accepted as a basic right for all and that is our starting point."
Harry emphasized that the fight is not over just because some people have been vaccinated. He noted this is the time to think of not just ourselves when there are still so many communities struggling.
"None of us should be comfortable thinking that we could be fine when so many others are suffering. In reality, and especially with this pandemic, when any suffer, we all suffer," he stated. "We need to lift up all of humanity and make sure that no person or community is left behind."
Harry concluded his address by acknowledging the hardship India is going through right now, as they are "battling a devastating second wave."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex serve as Campaign Chairs of VAX Live, which "aims to inspire vaccine confidence worldwide and help get the COVID-19 vaccines to everyone, everywhere," according to a Global Citizen's statement.
In addition to the duo taking part in The Concert to Reunite the World, there will also be appearances by President Joe Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, David Letterman, Gayle King, Jimmy Kimmel, Nomzamo Mbatha, Olivia Munn, Sean Penn and Selena Gomez — who is hosting the event.
Harry's recorded speech marked his first public appearance back in the U.S. since Prince Philip's funeral — which Meghan did not attend due to her pregnancy — on Saturday, April 17. The soon-to-be father-of-two's return over the pond was the first time he saw his family face-to-face following his and Meghan's bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview last month.
