Why Prince Harry Is Worried About Archie's Future

Like most of us, Prince Harry has had a very tumultuous 2020. From giving up his royal duties and relocating to California with wife Meghan Markle, to dealing with family drama and another controversial season of The Crown unfolding on Netflix, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have faced plenty of challenges in recent months. Harry's brother, Prince William, reportedly contracted COVID-19, and in November 2020, Meghan revealed that she'd suffered a miscarriage. On top of those personal struggles, Harry has made it clear that climate change and the state of the natural world also weigh heavy on his mind, particularly when he thinks about his son's future. 

"The moment you become a father everything really does change because you start to realize, well, what is the point in bringing a new person into this world when they get to your age and it's on fire?" Prince Harry said in a video for the WaterBear Network – a free streaming service of conservation content. "We can't steal their future. We really can't. That's not the job we're here for."

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor celebrated his first birthday in May 2020, and his proud papa is determined to make sure he grows up on a planet that is suitable for many happy birthdays to come. Here's what Prince Harry is doing to promote a bright future for his son and for kids everywhere.

Prince Harry hopes activism will help the next generation

To protect the next generation, the Duke of Sussex helped launch the WaterBear Network – a free streaming platform that serves as an educational tool for environmental conservatism. Prince Harry was so inspired by the birth of his son, Archie, that he even formed a non-profit organization with Meghan Markle named after their little boy: Archewell. Prince Harry also acts as the president of African Parks and a patron of Rhino Conservation Botswana. His recent partnership with the WaterBear Network is just another step toward educating others about threats facing wildlife and the environment.

In a video filmed for WaterBear from his Southern California home, Prince Harry said "being in nature is the most healing part of life." He wants the organization to "capitalize on a community of doers" and put real action behind conservation efforts. "For me, it's about putting the do's behind the say's," the duke explained, urging others to do their part to ensure the next generation has a healthy planet.