We do exist, but after this why bother?

Now I know he is not the sharpest knife in the box, but he pas a personal office which contains press and media advisers - and probably speech writers as well, but why did someone let him make statements like this.

I have read about this today M0nica and I think, quite frankly, that he will take no notice whatsoever of his advisers or anyone else except his wife now.

Although he was addressing an audience of young people, I thought the speech was ill-considered, ill-informed and ageist.

The Duke told youngsters at the annual WE Day conference they were the “most engaged generation in history”, as he quoted the Duchess’ favourite mantra from Martin Luther King.
“As my wife often reminds me with one of her favourite quotes by Martin Luther King Jr. – ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that'."

Martin Luther King was born in 1929.

Not caring or not seeming to care is not a quality limited to older people, or even more common in older people than other sectors of society, nor is seeing things differently from other people, so why attribute this to older people only and not society as a whole?

It is an example of what I would call institutionalised ageism and it is this sort of throwaway remark not thought about that makes ageism, like sexism and racism that people are determined to consider entirely generl in meaning. Most of the newspapers, no matter how they disagree, on other things interpreted his words the way i did.

I don't see what's wrong with his speech.

Because he is describing the older generation as a mass as being unsympathetic to younger peoples aspirations and concern

No, he's not and I'm amazed you can see it that way.

He says, '...when it seems as if they don't care..'

Not 'they don't care.'

But frankly a lot of old people don't care, that's a fact. It's also human and normal and not that big a deal. But that's still not what he said!

He added:

Try to remember that not everyone sees the world the way you do but that doesn’t mean they don’t care

Which surely anyone can see are wise, true and perceptive words and, if critical of anyone, are directed at younger people and those who make assumptions.

Nor is he suggesting that young people can change the minds of older people - not from what's quoted above anyway.

He's simply making a statement that.. You have the the incredible opportunity to help reshape mindsets, to empower those around you to think outside the box and to work with you, not against you, to find solutions

Absolutely true, they DO have that power. I cannot see any hint that he's implying 'you can teach old dogs some new tricks' - he says "those around you" - and who is that likely to be? Their peers.

Give the kid a break {smile]

Not sure about Brexit. Leave votes were most closely aligned with education levels reached and older people, generally, left school younger and started work with few education qualifications because they were not available and not needed for many jobs.

Older people with A levels and degrees, mainly voted remain.

I am not making any value judgments just stating the facts of the analysis of the way people voted.

I agree with EllanVannin...if he did write the speech himself, he is referring to his own family. They have probably been intolerant of his less than acceptable behaviour. After that photo of him in the nude appeared on the front pages, he was probably urged to settle down, marry and start behaving in a manner more fitting for a royal prince.

He might well think that old people are dyed-in-the-wool and old fashioned. He might be right. Especially where Brexit is concerned. But I don't think it is for young people to reshape our minds. That sounds arrogant. They will just have to deal with their world as best they can when the time comes. No good encouraging them to be disrespectful of older folk.

notentirely, interesting point but I don't think we can categorise any generation really. The people on here with their numerous properties and foreign holidays who worry about dipping into their savings are not typical really.

Do I detect the hand of Meghan in his speech ? Hopefully they will settle down soon and be more aware of their role.

He was probably referring to his own grandparents----it is he who needs to think outside the box as all grandparents aren't like his !!

I might add, that it is sweeping statements made by Prince Harry and notentirelyallhere that fuel the fires of Ageism.

Why do I object to these words? Because he is describing the older generation as a mass as being unsympathetic to younger peoples aspirations and concerns and suggesting that we cannot cope with the modern world and need to be helped to change by young people.

You only have to read GN to know how aware we are of the problems facing the world and young people. From concerns about global warming, the cost of an university education to the gig economy and the price of housing, whether renting or buying, to name but a few.

Many/most of us have grandchildren of varying ages and are constantly talking to them and hearing about their problems.

notentirelyallhere but a lot of the older generation probably look as though they don't care, for instance because they voted for Brexit thus depriving the younger generation of the opportunity to study and work in the EU; they imposed a student loan system whereas degrees were free for them; they have made vast amounts of money out of the property market and by becoming buy to let landlords have made renting hugely expensive; they call young people snowflakes and berate them for having mobile phones and spending money on coffees and holidays (despite the huge amount of travelling that many, many older people do now).

I am sorry, but I disagree. Yes, some old people do all of those things, but so do many younger people. Many of those things were political decisions made by political parties we did not vote for, because we opposed those very policies. Speak to a retired person in State pension alone and renting their accommodation - and their are millions of them and ask them about the money they have made from house purchase and what rent they get from their buy to let

Most buy to let properties are bought by people well under retirement age who have chosen to invest in property rather than a pension.

Not sure what the problem is monica. Perhaps you’ve read something into his words that I can’t see.
I agree with notentirely, I think he was just asking for tolerance.
He could have asked older people to be more tolerant of the young while he was at it.

I don't know who he was addressing or what about but a lot of the older generation probably look as though they don't care, for instance because they voted for Brexit thus depriving the younger generation of the opportunity to study and work in the EU; they imposed a student loan system whereas degrees were free for them; they have made vast amounts of money out of the property market and by becoming buy to let landlords have made renting hugely expensive; they call young people snowflakes and berate them for having mobile phones and spending money on coffees and holidays (despite the huge amount of travelling that many, many older people do now).

I'm not suggesting it's ALL older people or that these criticisms are reasonable but it's what a lot of young people feel and perceive and they have a right to their point of view. The world is a very different place now to the 1940s, 50s and 60s especially, we cannot return to the way of life we had then and Harry is a public figure who does good work for young people and to whom they respond. He was only asking for a little toleration, not really a problem surely.