Prince Harry met bereaved parents in Los Angeles on 11 February to discuss the dangers of social media, but the event has since ignited an unexpected online row, as viewers fixated on the prince's animated hand gestures and accused him of mimicking California governor Gavin Newsom.
The Duke of Sussex has increasingly positioned himself as a campaigner on mental health and online harm since relocating to California in 2020. He and Meghan Markle have spoken frequently about the impact of social media on young people, and Harry has appeared at several summits and panel events on the issue. This latest gathering in LA, however, has shifted attention away from his message and towards the way he delivered it.
