After what has been an incredibly challenging year, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan are hoping to close 2020 out on a hopeful note.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex launched a special episode of their Archewell Audio podcast today, December 29, featuring optimistic words from a host of high-profile names from the worlds of philanthropy, social activism, entertainment, and sport.
On the couple’s standalone special episode that’s part of their new multiyear production deal with Spotify, hosts Harry and Meghan are joined by the likes of Stacey Abrams, Brené Brown, Elton John, Deepak Chopra, James Corden, and Tyler Perry to share personal anecdotes and inspirational stories.
“As we come to the end of this year, and look to the future … let’s hold onto the lessons we’ve learned about how important it is to take care of one another and how meaningful our connections are, even when they’re physically impossible,” Harry says on the holiday special.
“We thought, What if we can bring together some people that inspire us—people that we admire—and get their thoughts on what they learned from 2020,” Meghan adds.
In the 35-minute one-off special—which also includes musings from novelist Matt Haig, celebrity chef José Andrés, Japanese tennis ace Naomi Osaka, teen activist Christina Adane, anti-racism author Rachel Cargle, and British poets Hussain Manawer and George the Poet—the couple also shared their sympathies for those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 and expressed words of thanks to those working on the front lines of the pandemic.
“As we all know, it’s been a year,” Harry says. “And we really want to honor the compassion and kindness that has helped so many people get through it.”
Meghan continues, “At the same time, to honor those who have experienced uncertainty and unthinkable loss, our thoughts have been with you, especially during this holiday season. … We also want to thank health care workers, frontline service workers, and so many others for their sacrifices.”
The couple share a personal contribution to close out the episode and wish listeners a happy New Year. “Not a toast per se, but a song, which is about shining a light. A song that means so much to us,” Harry says, before playing a recording of the gospel tune, “This Little Light of Mine.”
“It played at the very end of our wedding, while we were walking down the steps of the church,” Meghan explains. “It was the music that we wanted playing when we started our lives together. Because as we all know, ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.'”
The duke continues, “The message of this song is one we hold so dearly. It’s about using the power we each have within us to make this world a better place.”
With perhaps a nod to their own personal challenges faced earlier this year as they stepped away from their official royal roles, Meghan adds, “No matter what life throws at you guys, trust us when we say, love wins.”
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