Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s family member makes surprise cameo during video call

Ms King, a close friend of Oprah Winfrey, spotted the Sussexes’ dog, Pula, in the background during the conversation, prompting a moment of levity amid the serious discussion.

“She’s been sitting next to us, chewing a stick,” Harry remarked with a laugh about their canine companion.

INSTAGRAM: OPRAH DAILY

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, aged 41 and 44 respectively, participated in an online book launch featuring social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and author Catherine Price, who have penned An Amazing Generation.

Connecting via video link from their Montecito residence in California, the couple engaged with the experts on the subject of how phone-centric upbringings affect young people.

Both Harry and Meghan posed questions to the authors regarding the consequences of screen time on children’s mental health and overall wellbeing.

The duke directly addressed Mr Haidt during the discussion, enquiring about the relationship between device-dependent childhoods and youngsters’ emotional growth, as well as what steps families might take to encourage healthier habits.

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The social psychologist offered a stark warning in response. “Kids need to play, all mammals play, and once they get the device, it’s going to push out everything else,” Mr Haidt explained.

“They’re going to have less sleep, they’re going to stop reading books, they’re going to stop spending so much time with other kids, they’re not going to get as much sunshine, not as much exercise.”

He cautioned that screen-based activities, which he described as “engineered for addiction,” systematically displace the fundamental experiences children require for healthy development.

The couple’s advocacy for protecting young people online extends beyond public appearances. In 2024, they established The Parents’ Network, a free support initiative designed to assist families whose children have suffered harm through social media platforms.

When Australia introduced legislation banning social media access for those under 16, the Sussexes described it as “bold, decisive action to protect children at a critical moment in their development,” whilst noting such measures serve “only as a band aid.”

Harry has previously acknowledged that he and Meghan frequently discuss their own children’s digital futures.

“We will be way more cautious and hesitant of allowing our kids to have access to social media,” he revealed on the Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know podcast.

The appearance marked the first time the Duke and Duchess have been seen publicly in 2026, with the sunny Californian backdrop of their home visible throughout the broadcast.

Harry had previously collaborated with Haidt in 2024, sitting down with the author for a World Mental Health Day conversation about smartphones and their effects on young people.