PHOTOSPrince Harry Says ‘Just Call Me Harry’ As He Returns To The United Kingdom For Final Royal Duties
Prince Harry is dropping his royal title. On Wednesday, February 26, the 35-year-old asked delegates to “just call him Harry” while working on his final round of engagements in the United Kingdom.
Before speaking at the Edinburgh International Conference, an advisor, Ayesha Hazarika, announced Harry’s request. “He's made it clear that we are all just to call him Harry. So, ladies and gentlemen, please give a big, warm, Scottish welcome to Harry,” she said.
After receiving a warm welcome, Harry took the stage to discuss the potential environmental impact of increasing global tourism. In the past, Harry received criticism for often using a private jet. Following the backlash, Harry announced his global initiative, Travalyst, which is aimed to improve conservation in the travel industry.
“We believe travel is a good thing. It is the heart of human experience, of cultural connections, and of new friendships,” Harry said.
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He continued, “It is predicted that tourism will reach over 1.8 billion travelers by 2030. If we do not act, and in large part get ahead of this inevitable surge, this massive increase will mean we see more of the world's beautiful destinations closed or destroyed, more communities becoming overwhelmed, more beaches shut because of pollution, and animals and wildlife driven from their natural habitat, which has a huge impact on communities and reduces tourism opportunities. But we are here to find ways to make sure that does not happen.”
On February 19, reports surfaced that Queen Elizabeth II prohibited Meghan Markle and Harry from keeping the word “royal” as a part of their “Sussex Royal” brand. The couple were looking to create a “global trademark for a range of items and activities, including clothing, stationery, books and teaching materials” and a new charity.
As OK! readers might recall, Harry and Meghan, 38, announced their plans to step back as senior members of the royal family on January 8. The couple explained that they will work to become financially independent and split their time between the United Kingdom and Canada.
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