King Charles Echoes Son Prince Harry's Sentiment During Speech to Congress
King Charles and his son, Prince Harry, may have tension in their relationship, but they shared a similar sentiment when it came to their worldviews.
Charles, 77, gave a historic speech in front of Congress on April 28, where he received 12 rounds of applause throughout his address. At one moment, the reigning monarch urged the US to stay united in its support of Ukraine as the war continues, and he drew parallels to the world rallying around the United States following the September 11, 2001, attacks.
"In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time … we answered the call together, as our people have done so for more than a century, shoulder to shoulder," Charles said. "Today, that same, unyielding resolve is needed for the defense of Ukraine and her most courageous people - in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace."
The King's message was a plea for President Donald Trump and Congress to maintain American support during the Russian-Ukrainian War, which started in February 2022.
Prince Harry, 41, for his part, made rare political comments while visiting Ukraine in April, calling out "American leadership." The Duke of Sussex spoke at the Kyiv Security Forum on April 23, and without specifically naming President Trump, 79, he urged the United States to fulfill its "obligations" to Ukraine.
"The United States has a singular role in this story. Not only because of its power, but because when Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons, America was part of the assurance that Ukraine's sovereignty and borders would be respected," Harry said, in part, while on stage. "This is a moment for American leadership. A moment for America to show that it can honor its international treaty obligations, not out of charity, but out of its own enduring role in global security and strategic stability."
Harry, who served 10 years in the British army and undertook two overseas tours of duty in Afghanistan, also pleaded to Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the violence.
"No nation benefits from the continued loss of life we are witnessing," he said, directed at Putin, 73. "Years into this war, with immense losses and limited gains, it is increasingly clear that this path offers no victory, only more loss."
Harry acknowledged he is "not a politician" earlier in the speech, but visited Ukraine as a "soldier" and a "humanitarian."
Harry and Charles' unified message comes after the father and son haven't seen eye-to-eye much in the past several years. Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down from their roles with the royal family in 2020 and relocated to California, where they currently reside with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Following Harry and Meghan's exit, they did a series of interviews and released a Netflix documentary about their time working within Buckingham Palace, shining a light on the unfair treatment and lack of support they received.
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 9:44 PM.