Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Honour Jane Goodall Following Her Death
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have joined voices across the globe in paying homage to Dame Jane Goodall, the pioneering primatologist and conservationist, who has passed away at the age of 91.
The Jane Goodall Institute verified that she passed away on 1 October in Los Angeles from natural causes while on her speaking stint.
A Personal Farewell from Harry & Meghan
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle issued a heartfelt statement in response to the news. “Dr. Jane Goodall DBE was a visionary humanitarian, scientist, friend to the planet, and friend to us,” they said.
“Her commitment to changing lives extends beyond what the world saw, and also to what we personally felt.
She held our son, Archie, when he was first born, and showered love and care on those who were privileged to know her. She will be deeply missed.”
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The couple’s words highlight not only Goodall’s global impact but also the personal connection they shared with her.
A Legacy That Changed Science
Goodall’s groundbreaking exploration in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park reshaped the world’s understanding of primates.
Her discoveries on chimpanzee geste, particularly their social bonds and distinct personalities, challenged long-standing beliefs and blurred the perceived boundary between humans and creatures.
Her inexhaustible fidelity to conservation, beast weal, and education made her a ménage name and one of the most recognised scientists of her generation.
The Sussexes’ Bond with Goodall
Harry first crossed paths with Goodall in December 2018, inviting her to Kensington Palace to bandy about participating enterprises over the terrain. Their bond grew snappily.
In 2019, she visited the couple at Frogmore Cottage, where she famously met baby Archie. “He was very tiny and very sleepy,” Goodall recalled in an interview. “Not too pleased to be passed from his mummy.”
At the same time, Goodall attended the Roots & Shoots youth programme at Windsor Castle, where Harry joined her in a light-hearted “ chimpanzee greeting ” before the two broke into an improvisational cotillion.
The moment, caught on camera, revealed the warmth of their fellowship and became a favourite story in the press.
Goodall’s ties with the Royal Family stretched back further. In 2004, she was awarded her damehood by King Charles, also the Prince of Wales, in recognition of her exceptional contribution to wisdom and conservation.
Tributes Flood In
Following her death, tributes poured in from world leaders, celebrities, and activists alike.
The Jane Goodall Institute described her as a revolutionary thinker and “a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world.”
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The statement added: “Her life and work not only made an indelible mark on our understanding of chimpanzees and other species, but also of humankind and the environments we all share.”
High-profile figures such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas, Julia Louis- Dreyfus, and Hillary Clinton also participated in dispatches of admiration, recognizing her as a global symbol of resilience and determination.
A Life That Inspired Generations
Jane Goodall’s end marks the end of a period, yet her heritage endures. Her decades of fieldwork, advocacy, and educational sweats inspired millions to see the natural world else and fight for its protection.
For Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, her influence was both public and particular. And for the wider world, her voice remains a guiding light in the fight to cover the earth.
