Prince Harry attended a dinner organized by World Health Organization (WHO) in New York over the weekend – and his wife Meghan was noticeably absent.
Present, however, was Queen Mathilde of Belgium, actor Forest Whitaker, several UN Agency Heads, and other dignitaries, for an event to honor survivors of childhood violence.
All are in New York for the UN General Assembly, which is set to kick off Monday morning in Manhattan.
Officials from countries like Sweden, Colombia, Zimbabwe, Georgia, Canada, Iceland, and Brazil were also present, as were survivors of child abuse to discuss the important issue.
The gathering comes a day after Harry attended Kevin Costner ‘s charity concert at his beachfront estate solo, all the way across the country in California while Meghan was said to be ‘sick.’
‘Violence takes many forms – both physical and psychological – and each leaves a lasting impact on those who experience it,’ MC of the event Will Poulter told attendees.
‘With one billion children around the world experiencing such violence, the statistics are staggering, but they represent real lives.
‘It’s our collective responsibility to ensure that these children are protected.’
Also in attendance were high-profile figures like Whitaker and Shudu Musida, who, along with the survivors, helped pen an open letter last week demanding urgent action from world leaders to end violence against children.
This comes ahead of the first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, which is set to take place in Colombia in November.
Signatories of the letter included Harry, Mathilde, and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who was seen conversing with the Duke of Sussex and actor at length during the event.
The Belgian royal spoke to the crowd as well, urging for more to be done to held kids facing corporal punishment, bullying, online violence and sexual abuse.
Other forms of violence singled out by the group include gang violence, child marriage and child labor.
Meghan, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen, after championing efforts designed to halt online bullying earlier this summer.
In August, the Duchess was seen lovingly clutching her husband’s knee on the set of CBS News Sunday Morning, as she detailed how she struggled with suicidal thoughts because of abuse she received as a working royal
She told host Jane Pauley how she hope her candor will help youngsters around the world navigate similar feelings, while reaching out to her spouse for support.
‘When you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey – certainly part of mine – is being able to be really open about it,’ Markle said as Harry, 39, looked on.
‘I really scraped the surface on my experience, but I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way.
‘And I would never want someone else to be making those sort of plans,’ she added.
‘[A]nd I would never want someone else to not be believed.’
A source told the Mirror that she missed Costner’s Santa Barbara house part because ‘she [was] sick and could not make it’.
A-listers like Jeff Bridges, Rob Lowe and Pink were in attendance.