Prince Harry speaks at the International Association of Privacy Professionals Conference on March 31, 2026 in Washington, D.C.Credit : Shannon Finney/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

Prince Harry made a rare public appearance in Washington, D.C., on March 31, where he spoke at the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Global Summit
The Duke of Sussex took part in a keynote conversation at the conference, which focuses on privacy, AI governance and online safety
Harry’s appearance came weeks before King Charles is due in the U.S. for a state visit

Prince Harry stepped out in Washington, D.C., for a rare public appearance at one of the world’s largest summits focused on privacy, AI and online safety.

On March 31, the Duke of Sussex, 41, spoke at the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Conference, taking part in a “keynote conversation” at the IAPP Global Summit, which bills itself as “the world’s largest annual gathering of digital responsibility professionals, attracting top experts in privacy, AI governance and cybersecurity law.”

Harry was pictured giving a wave on stage and chatting at the event, which took place weeks before his father, King Charles, is due in D.C. for a state visit.

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, have made online safety and digital responsibility a key focus of their philanthropic work since stepping back from their royal roles in the U.K. in 2020, and they released a statement last week praising a landmark verdict against YouTube and Meta.

Prince Harry speaks at the International Association of Privacy Professionals Conference on March 31, 2026 in Washington, D.C.Shannon Finney/Getty

The IAPP event brought Prince Harry to the East Coast from his California home, where he lives with Meghan and their children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.

Prince Harry hit the stage on the same day that Buckingham Palace officially announced that King Charles will undertake a state visit to the U.S. in late April.

The palace said that King, 77, and Queen Camilla, 78, will travel across the pond next month to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence.

More details are expected in due course, and the couple will visit at the invitation of President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, the White House shared that the King and Queen will visit the U.S. from April 27 to April 30, and Trump said it will include a banquet at the White House.

King Charles and Queen Camilla on March 24, 2026.Toby Shepheard – WPA Pool/Getty

“Melania and I are pleased to announce that Their Majesties, the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, will visit the United States for a Historic State Visit from April 27-30th, which will include a beautiful Banquet Dinner at the White House on the evening of April 28th,” the president said in a statement shared to Truth Social and other social media platforms.

“This momentous occasion will be even more special this year, as we commemorate the 250th Anniversary of our Great Country. I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect,” he continued. “It will be TERRIFIC!”

While the state visit will bring the King to the country where Prince Harry lives, PEOPLE understands that the father and son won’t be meeting up during the trip.

“When you’re talking about a state visit, every minute is accounted for — especially when it’s the King traveling as the invited guest of a head of state,” a source tells PEOPLE, adding that there’s an understanding on both sides.

“Harry knows how things are and wouldn’t ask for that either under these circumstances,” says the source.