Prince Harry Takes Stage at Concert—But I Can’t Get Over What’s Around His Neck (and Its Connection to…see more

Prince Harry Takes Stage at Concert—But I Can’t Get Over What’s Around His Neck (and Its Connection to William)

While raising money for a cause close to his heart, Prince Harry wore a necklace equally laden with meaning. At first glance, it may look like a simple cord, but eagle-eyed royals fans will note that it carries a deep connection to Harry’s family—and quite the history with his brother, Prince William.

Prince Harry had taken the stage on Friday night to honor first responders at the One805LIVE! concert in Carpinteria, California, where he introduced Santa Barbara County air support pilot Loren Courtney and thanked him for his 22 years of service, People reported. During the tribute, he wore a blazer and blue button-down shirt, accessorized with what appears to be the necklace. As in, the necklace Prince William reportedly broke during a brawl years ago.

In case you’re not familiar with it, let me bring you up to speed: In his 2023 book Spare, the Duke of Sussex shared that he and William got into a fight that turned physical, leaving his shirt ripped and necklace broken.

Then, during an interview on The Late Show, host Stephen Colbert asked him about the fight and the necklace, and Harry revealed he had it fixed and was wearing it. After showing it to Colbert, he shared that it features three pendants—one, a Tiger’s Eye, a gift from a friend in Botswana; and two others featuring his children’s cardiograms, which his wife, Meghan Markle had given him.

Beyond being a sentimental emblem of how much he cares for his friends and family, the broken—and repaired—necklace carries even deeper significance, since Harry wrote in Spare that the fight was the result of William calling his wife “rude” and “abrasive.” In the years since, he’s been spotted wearing it regularly, including on his recent trip to Colombia with Markle, according to Hello. In a way, its history makes the necklace even more remarkable—a reminder of his commitment to his wife and children, no matter what happens in life.

Prince Harry’s participation in Friday’s concert comes one year after he and Markle attended the 2023 fundraiser. The event, which raises money to provide equipment and mental health resources for local fire, police and sheriff departments, is aligned with the couple’s own efforts to support mental health. (Additionally, Harry served as a helicopter pilot during his time in the British Army, making him a fitting candidate to introduce Courtney, a fellow pilot.)

The fundraiser comes days after the couple issued a statement on their Archewell Foundation website, encouraging people to register to vote in this year’s U.S. election, and announced that he’d be heading back to the U.K. on the 30th to serve as the guest of honor at the WellChild Awards in London.