The decision to keep an event connected with one of Prince Harry’s charitable projects closed to the media in New York this month has been labeled as “outrageous.” The event was hosted by the conservation charity African Parks, which Harry became a board member of in 2023. The organization has faced allegations of human rights abuses by its rangers in the Republic of Congo. Calls for Prince Harry to step down from his role with the charity came after a newspaper exposé of the alleged abuse in January. African Parks commissioned an independent investigation into the allegations, but the findings have not been made public.
The controversy surrounding African Parks and the alleged human rights abuses committed by its rangers has brought increased public interest to the charity. Despite facing calls to resign from the organization, Prince Harry has continued to support its work. However, the decision to keep the event behind closed doors and not address the controversy directly has raised questions about transparency and accountability. Chief royal correspondent Jack Royston criticized the prince for not providing a clear justification for his continued advocacy for African Parks. He noted that the lack of addressing the scandal contradicts the social justice advocacy that Harry has championed since his split from the monarchy.
The reluctance on Prince Harry’s part to address the controversy surrounding African Parks is seen as a departure from his previous advocacy for marginalized communities and social justice issues. The event in New York on September 23, hosted by African Parks at the Metropolitan Club, was closed to the media. The prince’s official website published a summary of the panel discussion he participated in, highlighting the organization’s conservation efforts across Africa. Despite the ongoing investigation into the alleged abuses, African Parks has refrained from making further comments until the investigation is concluded.
The panel discussion chaired by Katie Couric featured Prince Harry sharing his experience with elephant conservation in Malawi in 2016. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and investment in conservation efforts, aligning with his broader philanthropic vision for sustainable change. The event served as a celebration of African Parks’ work across 22 protected areas in 12 countries, calling for collective action to address conservation challenges in Africa. Newsweek’s royal reporter, James Crawford-Smith, emphasized the urgency of the conservation issues facing the continent and the need for continued support for the organization’s mission.
