During her speech, the Duchess said: “If you do get a chance, I will go off-script here, to see the Lost Screen Memorial and hear many of their children’s stories tomorrow, I think it will resonate with you, I hope it will resonate with you in the same way that it stayed with us.”
Gesturing at the teleprompter, the Duchess then tried to get back on track with her speech: “If we can go back to where we were, good, thank you.”
The Lost Screen Memorial is an installation in New York City that honours children who died from harm on social media. It features 50 illuminated lightboxes, each shaped like a smartphone, displaying the lock screen photo of a child who lost their life due to online dangers.
Harry and Meghan spent time with families at the memorial for a private vigil and moment of remembrance during the unveiling earlier this year.
During the acceptance speech at the gala, Meghan added: “Our children Archie and Lili are just six and four years old. Can you believe it? Luckily, still too young for social media, but we know that day is coming, and like so many parents, we think constantly about how to embrace technology’s benefits while safeguarding against the dangers.”
During the gala, Harry and Meghan announced their organisation The Parents’ Network would join forces with Parents Together, to give the initiative “broader reach and deeper impact as technology continued its rapid evolution.”
The duo said the move was “a natural evolution to enable the community to continue to grow and have more impact alongside the rapid rise of technology”.
Elsewhere, Project Healthy Minds founder and CEO Phillip Schermer spoke briefly about the couple’s work, and said: “It is a privilege to honor Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, at our World Mental Health Day Gala this year.
“Their leadership, generosity, and unwavering commitment to advancing mental health awareness have made a profound difference in the lives of so many.”
