Prince Harry jokes with award winners at Diana Legacy Awards after William leaves

Prince Harry was in a playful mood while chatting with the recipients of the Diana Legacy Award Thursday night — and after his estranged brother William left the building.

The Duke of Sussex made a brief appearance at the ceremony via video call where he spoke to the young winners of the accolade, which they each received from his estranged brother Prince William earlier in the evening.

“I’m sorry I am not there,” Harry, 39, said from his Montecito, Calif. home. “I wish I could be there with you guys.”

The father of two thanked the young winners for “inspiring so many others” and “protecting my mother’s legacy” with their humanitarian work, referring to his beloved late mother, Princess Diana.

Harry then switched gears and joked with the group, giving them some sound advice before they headed out to celebrate their respective wins with a night on the town.

“Enjoy the rest of your evening if that’s what you plan to do,” he said. “Don’t get into too much trouble if you’re continuing to go on.”

Harry opted not to attend the awards in person just weeks after losing his bid for taxpayer-funded UK security protection for his family.

The runaway royal’s quick phone-in came after his estranged brother left London’s Science Museum where he presented the awards and made a speech honoring his later mother.

William attended Thursday’s awards solo, as his wife Kate Middleton recovers from surgery and the recent photo scandal that rocked the palace.

“This evening’s Legacy Award is particularly special as it marks the 25th anniversary year of the Diana Award — a charity set up to reflect my mother’s belief that young people can change the world,” said the Prince of Wales.

“I know that she would have been honored to see a charity in her name doing such inspirational work to uplift young people from all corners of the globe,” William, 41, said. “She taught me that everyone has the potential to give something back; that everyone in need deserves a supporting hand in life.”

“That legacy is something that both Catherine and I have sought to focus on through our work, as have the 50,000 young people who have received a Diana Award over the past 25 years,” William said of his wife.

William presented a total of 20 awards to recipients at the event.

The feuding brothers have often appeared alongside one another at previous award ceremonies.

However, since the Sussexes stepped down as senior working members of the royal family in 2020 and subsequently moved to the US, his involvement in the charity has been separate from his brother.

Harry and William’s refusal to join forces in person only highlights their ongoing rift as they have not seen each other since King Charles’ coronation on May 6, 2023.

It’s believed the brothers did not see each other during Harry’s brisk 24-hour trip to London in February.