To screams of delight from the audience, the duke, who had been expected solo at the event, said “I’m now going to drag my wife on stage”, before taking the duchess by the hand.
Former actress Meghan, dressed in a blue blazer, black top showing off her large bump, and black trousers, held Harry’s hand as they moved centre stage at the SSE Arena in Wembley, London.
The pair hugged and stood with their arms around one another as the duke told the crowd: “I am with you and we are with you. Get to work.”
Harry gave the 12,000 schoolchildren and students at the event a “to-do” list, including “Have less screen time, and more face-to-face time”, as well as “Dare to be the greatest generation of all time”.
Warning against the perils of advertising and social media and urging them not to hide behind their devices, he told them: “If we look at the world we’re living in, I know it can feel challenging sometimes, but your role is to shine the light.
“Every day you are inundated with an over-exposure of advertising and mainstream media, social media and endless comparisons, distorting the truth, and trying to manipulate the power of positive thinking.
“But you don’t let them sway you.
“Because you don’t need to hide behind your device to share your voice.
“You confidently voice your opinions because you can embrace them proudly.”
Taking inspiration from Meghan, Harry said: “As my wife often reminds me with one of her favourite quotes by Martin Luther King Jr – ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that’.”
The duke told the young audience: “Your optimism is inspiring – you see opportunities where other people see challenges; you seek solutions when others just focus on problems.
“You are the most engaged generation in history. You care about values, doing the right thing, and championing the causes that will shape your future.
“You don’t judge someone based on how they look, where they’re from, or how they identify.
“In this room, you see the world for what it is – vibrant, colourful, mixed and full of promise.
“That is who you are, and that is what makes me feel proud to stand in your presence as you tackle the world’s greatest issues. And you guys know as well as I do, we’ve still got so much to do.”
He cited what he saw as the two crucial issues to focus on – mental health and climate change.
Harry said: “First, let’s take our mental health; which you’ve embraced wholeheartedly, breaking the generational stigma and helping to normalise the conversation.
“After all, mental illness is about recovery, mental health is about consciousness, mental fitness is about well-being.”
He finished with a 15-point to-do list for young people, saying: “So what’s next? What’s on your to-do list starting now?
“Be braver; Be stronger; Be kind to each other; Be kind to yourselves; Have less screen time, and more face-to-face time; Exceed expectations; Eliminate plastics; Conserve water; Protect wildlife and their unique habitat; Keep empathy alive; Ask your friends how they are doing and listen to the answer; Be honest; Take risks; Change your thoughts and change the world; Dare to be the greatest generation of all time.”
WE Day UK is a global initiative to encourage young people to take part in positive social change.