Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's war on social media - Inside the Palace

HARRY AND MEGHAN'S WAR ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Prince Harry and Meghan say they are "proud" to be part of the work combating the dangers of social media for children.

I understand the couple are strong advocates for Government action to make artificial intelligence (AI) and digital spaces safer, as long as the oversight is careful and proportionate.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex believe any new rules must be thoughtful and evidence-based, especially when the tech industry is developing so quickly and impacting child safety.

The rapid development, they fear, also risks the technology being used in twisted ways by bad actors.

This is something Prince Harry has long campaigned for, criticising the “lawlessness” within the tech industry during an interview last October.

This week, he and Meghan spoke to Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price, authors of The Amazing Generation: Your Guide To Fun And Freedom In A Screen-Filled World, about their research.

The conversation was published on Oprah Daily, where Harry said: "Over the years, we’ve worked with you on how the digital space is deeply affecting our collective and mental, emotional and physical health."

"And obviously, a huge congratulations to you and the outcome of your research, which has created a parent-led movement which is astonishing and much needed."

"And that we’re proud to be a part of," Meghan added.

"Yeah, hugely," Harry said. "And the insights have been incredibly valuable over the years for our work with parents who have lost their children to online harms and working towards solutions to keep all children safe."

On Friday, Downing Street criticised changes to Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok, which has the capability to generate sexualised images of children, tailored to user prompts.

Grok's image editing is now only available to paying users, but the Prime Minister's spokesman said the changes are "not a solution" and only serve to make creating deepfakes a "premium service" and are "insulting" to victims of misogyny and sexual violence.

The regulator Ofcom had previously made "urgent contact" with X, which created the Grok chatbot, to raise serious concerns.

The Duke and Duchess's Archewell Foundation launched its Parents' Network in 2024 to support families whose children had been impacted by harmful internet content.

PRINCESS OF WALES 'DEEPLY GRATEFUL' SHE IS HEALTHY

Two years on from major abdominal surgery, and one year since the announcement that she was in remission from cancer, the Princess of Wales has released a deeply personal message, explaining how nature helped her heal.

Kensington Palace released the final instalment of Catherine's Mother Nature video series to coincide with Her Royal Highness's 44th birthday, which, I'm told, was the Princess's own wish.

Writing on social media alongside the Winter video, Catherine said: "The Mother Nature series has been a deeply personal, creative reflection on how nature has helped me heal. But it is also a story about the power of nature and creativity in collective healing. There is so much we can learn from mother nature, as we look to build a happier, healthier world. C".

We see the future Queen taking a walk through the Berkshire countryside, alongside a beautiful shot of iconic British landscapes, captured by William and Catherine's favoured filmmaker, Will Warr.

During the video, The Princess said: "Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration. Where the stream slows just enough for us to see our own reflection. To discover the deepest parts of ourselves. Alongside the whispers in the pulse of every living thing. I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am. For the rivers within us flow with ease, fears washed away, cleanse and purify. Come to peace with our tears and discover what it means to be alive. To be at one with nature, a quiet teacher and a soft voice that guides. In memory. Helping us to heal."

I understand the Princess is concerned about how the online world and artificial intelligence are impacting genuine human connections - something she wrote about in her recent essay with Professor Waldinger for the Royal Foundation's Centre for Early Childhood.

This is expected to be a theme of her work moving forward this year, exploring how the power of nature and creativity can be harnessed for human connection, healing and wellbeing.

The Princess found sanctuary in nature during her cancer recovery, and regularly promotes access to the outdoors for the benefit of British communities.

It wouldn't surprise me if we see the Princess surrounded by children in muddy fields and forests during future engagements.

IS THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH THE ROYAL FAMILY'S SECRET WEAPON?

The Duchess of Edinburgh has urged the world to turn its attention to a devastating conflict that has entered its 1,000th day.

Since the outbreak of Sudan's civil war in April 2023, it is estimated that around 400,000 people have been killed and 12 million more displaced, which has triggered famine.

Writing for the Telegraph, King Charles' sister-in-law described "tales of horrors no one should ever see; bodies piled up like a wall, families drowned at gunpoint, children carved in two, women raped and beaten. Those who can escape, live in fear of being killed later."

Sophie regularly travels around the world to wartorn countries, shining a light on the devastating consequences of sexual violence in conflict.

The Duchess is a representative of the UN's Women, Peace and Security agenda, and cried in public when she visited a refugee camp in Chad last year. She was hearing from Sudanese women who were survivors of "systematic" rape.

The war in Sudan is arguably the world's biggest humanitarian crisis, and the Duchess argues that the West needs to pay far more attention to it.

"It is a moment that should make us stop and reflect, not only due to the scale of the suffering, but because this crisis has unfolded with so little global attention," The Duchess said.

"Emergency assistance alone cannot address the enormity of this situation; indeed, the agencies working there are overstretched to breaking point. Local groups, humanitarian organisations and women-led Sudanese collectives are doing what they can against an overwhelming number of people who have lost their loved ones, homes and livelihoods and who need support now and will do so for years to come."

"Girls who have had their education interrupted must be given the chance to return to school, and women, men and children who have endured unthinkable sexual violence need access to health services, safe spaces and support to recover and restore their dignity. These are not luxuries; they are basic human requirements."

The Telegraph's Royal Editor, Hannah Furness, reports Sophie is regularly called the Royal Family's "secret weapon" and the "quiet saviour of the monarchy".

Her causes rarely grab headlines, but it is important work, and the Foreign Office sees her as an incredibly useful diplomatic and humanitarian asset.

The Prince of Wales invited his aunt to carry out a joint engagement with him last summer, where they were pictured enjoying a cider together at the Royal Cornwall Show in Wadebridge.

Is this a sign Prince William plans to rely more on Sophie's approach to royal duties and increase her workload when he takes the throne? Let's wait and see.