Prince Harry makes first appearance since biography Finding Freedom claims at Travalyst summit

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Prince Harry makes first appearance since bombshell biography claims to urge the travel industry to ‘build back better’ in a speech for a virtual summit for his sustainable tourism project Travalyst

  • Prince Harry made his first appearance since biography extracts were published
  • Delivered a speech at virtual summit for his sustainable tourism project Travalyst
  • Duke of Sussex, 35, urged travel industry to ‘build back better’ after Covid-19
  • Claims published in Sussexes’ biography Finding Freedom have caused a stir

By Stephanie Linning For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

The Duke of Sussex has made his first appearance since claims from his bombshell biography were published. 

Prince Harry, 35, appeared via video link from Los Angeles today to deliver the opening speech at a virtual global summit for his sustainable tourism project Travalyst.

In the address, the royal urged the travel industry to ‘build back better’ after Covid-19, saying it has a ‘responsibility’ to reshape the way we travel. 

Prince Harry, 35, appeared via video link from Los Angeles today to deliver the opening speech at a virtual global summit for his sustainable tourism project Travalyst

It is the first time Harry has been seen since the Sussexes’ biography, Finding Freedom, was serialised by The Times and The Sunday Times. The book lays bare the rift between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and the rest of the royal family.  

Harry spoke live from Los Angeles on Wednesday night to coincide with the start of the first summit session, which started on Thursday morning at 7am BST. A second session for viewers in EAMA and the Americas will take place later today.

He said in his opening speech: ‘Many of you joining us today rely on visitors for your livelihoods.

‘Businesses are hurting significantly, and I’ve heard from some of you who are currently struggling to put food on your family’s tables and make ends meet because there are no tourists and therefore no income.

‘We need to build back – but we need to build back better. And that means there’s a responsibility, a responsibility we cannot avoid or dismiss, for us to reshape this industry in a way that benefits everyone and everything for decades to come.’ 

He continued: ‘Before the pandemic unfolded we witnessed more and more young people expressing an interest in authentic travel experiences and an ability to partake in trips that are greener, that allow them to support local communities, uphold heritage and protect destinations and cultures.

His speech came after claims were published at the weekend from Finding Freedom

His speech came after claims were published at the weekend from Finding Freedom

‘This is the future of travel, and a future that Travalyst is here to support and catalyse.’

Harry launched Travalyst last autumn, co-founding it with leading brands Booking.com, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor, Trip.com and Visa, and it now operates as an independent non-profit organisation based in the UK. 

His appearance today comes amid shocking revelations from upcoming biography Finding Freedom, in which authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claim relations between the Sussexes and the Cambridges grew so bitter that by March the couples were barely speaking. 

Scobie and Duran they have spoken to more than 100 sources including ‘close friends of Harry and Meghan’s, royal aides and palace staff (past and present)’, with all the information in the book having ‘at least two sources.’ 

The Duke and Duchess deny giving any interviews or contributing to the book directly, but the intimate nature of some details raises questions over who the sources were. 

The explosive biography has claimed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ‘hurt’ the Queen by unilaterally mapping out their future royal roles without her approval. 

Her Majesty is said to have been ‘blindsided’ by the launch of the SussexRoyal website which accompanied their Megxit announcement in January.  

There are also fears the book’s publication could spark a fresh rift within the royal family.

The duke, who now lives in Los Angeles with Meghan and their son Archie after the couple stepped down as working royals, made no mention of the book’s publication when he spoke at the virtual summit. 

The Duke of Sussex has urged the travel industry to 'build back better' after Covid-19 as he made his first public appearance since a series of royal revelations were published. He spoke at a virtual summit for his sustainable travel project Travalyst. Pictured, at an event in February

The Duke of Sussex has urged the travel industry to ‘build back better’ after Covid-19 as he made his first public appearance since a series of royal revelations were published. He spoke at a virtual summit for his sustainable travel project Travalyst. Pictured, at an event in February

Finding Freedom: The bombshell revelations from Harry and Meghan’s biography 

Meghan’s necklace controversy

Meghan Markle was left ‘frustrated and emotional’ after a palace aide ‘scolded’ her for wearing a necklace with the initials H and M before she and Prince Harry were engaged, according to Finding Freedom. 

The former Suits star, 38, was spotted wearing the personalised £184 14 karat gold chain by Los Angeles-based designer Maya Brenner – believed to have been a gift from the prince – while out shopping in Toronto in December 2016.

The bold move was seen as an early indication of the seriousness of their relationship – a month after the news of their love affair emerged. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex later announced their engagement in November 2017. 

According to a source close to the couple, following the publication of the images Meghan received a dressing down from a palace aide.

‘She was advised that wearing such a necklace only served to encourage the photographers to keep pursuing such images — and new headlines,’ they said.

Prince Harry was REFUSED Queen’s offer of a trial period’ that would have allowed him and Meghan Markle to return to the fold 12 months after Megxit 

Prince Harry was so keen on quitting the royal family that he initially refused the offer of a trial period which could have seen him and Meghan return to the UK after Megxit, 

The review was insisted upon by courtiers and other royals, with the Queen keen to let Harry know he could return to the fold if he changed his mind. 

However, the Duke of Sussex was keen to make a ‘clean break’ and had to be persuaded to agree to the trial period.  A source said: ‘He was adamantly opposed to the review process.’

 Harry is thought to have been against the idea because it came from ‘the institution’ and he feared that a review would lessen the impact of their departure, allowing the media to write they could return.

Harry believed the ‘old guard’ at Buckingham Palace disliked Meghan and wanted to make her life difficult. 

That belief is thought to have fuelled his desire to not include a review option in Megxit.   

 Harry ‘ditched an old friend for criticising Meghan’ 

The Duke of Sussex was so ‘incandescent’ with rage at the racist abuse Meghan Markle received after their relationship went public that he ditched an old friend for gossiping about her.

Harry was shocked at the reception given to his new girlfriend by his social circle and the wider public, according to Finding Freedom.

He was especially concerned about ‘the ugliness of racism…both unconscious and intentional’.