Prince Harry makes surprise appearance as he renews commitment to children injured in war

Prince Harry has renewed his commitment to helping children injured in conflict, making a surprise appearance at Imperial College London’s I-HUB innovation centre in West London on Thursday.

The Duke of Sussex joined representatives from Save the Children and Archewell Philanthropies at an event focused on improving treatment and long-term support for children who suffer life-changing injuries in war zones.

The gathering brought together humanitarian workers, medical experts, engineers, technology innovators and philanthropic figures, with the renewed partnership aiming to provide a broader package of care — from advanced prosthetics and physical rehabilitation to long-term mental health support.

Prince Harry: ‘Children should not be exposed to conflict’

Speaking to attendees, Harry said children should not have to experience the consequences of warfare.

“Children should not be exposed to conflict. They should not be losing limbs to blast.”

He added that while children continue to suffer from conflict, he would continue working to help them “live life to the full”, describing the work between Archewell Philanthropies, Save the Children and Imperial College London as an enduring partnership.

The event also highlighted the scale of the problem facing children caught up in modern warfare.

New analysis from Save the Children found that 12,053 children were killed or injured by explosive ordnance between 2020 and 2025, an average of more than five children every day. The figures include casualties caused by landmines, unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices and other explosive weapons.

Save the Children said the growing use of drones is creating additional dangers for children, while attacks can also disrupt schools, hospitals, homes and humanitarian services. In Ukraine, the charity said drone attacks on schools increased by 358% in 2025 compared with the previous year.

Inside the technology being developed for injured children

Following a panel discussion, Harry took part in demonstrations of technologies being developed to improve care for children with blast injuries.

One of the innovations showcased was a specially designed prosthetic knee joint that can grow alongside a child. The device was developed by engineers at Imperial College London with funding from Save the Children, addressing one of the particular challenges faced by children who require prosthetic limbs while their bodies are still growing.

Save the Children and Imperial College London established the Centre for Paediatric Blast Injury Studies in 2023, bringing together medical professionals, engineers, humanitarian experts and policymakers to address the specific challenges faced by children injured by explosive weapons.

Harry has now visited the centre on three occasions.

In September 2025, Archewell Philanthropies announced a $500,000 donation to support humanitarian causes and injured children in conflict zones including Gaza and Ukraine, with funding also supporting the centre’s work on blast injuries and prosthetic solutions.

Save the Children calls for action on emerging weapons

Claire Sanford, Save the Children UK’s Conflict and Humanitarian Director, warned that children are increasingly facing explosive threats from multiple directions.

“Children are facing a new generation of explosive threats from the air, on the ground, and increasingly enabled by AI.”

Sanford said no single organisation could tackle those challenges alone and welcomed the strengthened partnership with Imperial College London and Archewell Philanthropies, saying the work would focus on developing solutions around the needs of children.

She also called for political action, arguing that governments need to ensure laws and protections designed to safeguard children keep pace with changes in warfare.

“Children’s rights and safety must remain at the centre of decisions about how emerging technologies are developed and used,” she said.

Save the Children has urged the international community to stop the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, strengthen protections for children living through armed conflict and increase investment in rehabilitation for survivors of blast injuries.

The charity is also calling for binding international rules covering AI-powered weaponry, including meaningful human oversight and a ban on autonomous targeting systems.

Harry’s appearance in West London came during his first public engagements in Britain since he and Meghan returned to the UK after six years in California. On the same day, he also attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in London, linked to the Invictus Games, the competition for wounded, injured and sick military veterans that he founded.