Prince Harry has called for the term ‘mental health’ to be replaced with ‘mental fitness’ – as he took to the stage in New York without Meghan at his side.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, joined winners of the legacy award given in Princess Diana‘s memory to discuss mental health and climate change. There he told them his mother would be ‘proud’ of them as he took part in the 14th Concordia Annual Summit in support of The Diana Award.

The prince, who is currently on an eight-day solo trip to the East Coast and the UK, joined Tessy Ojo, the CEO of The Diana Award, on stage.

As she introduced Harry, she described him as ‘a passionate advocate for mental health’.

Prince Harry on stage in New York to discuss mental health with two young winners of an award in his mother’s memory.

Much of the conversation was about climate change. Harry looked slightly nervous and cracked his knuckles

Harry interviewed Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang from Indonesia and Christina Williams from Jamaica, who received The Legacy Award in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales

‘Can I go last?’ Harry asked what he’s hopeful for in the future

Ms Ojo told the crowd the royal had called for the phrase mental health to be changed.

The Telegraph reported she said: ‘He actually said to me, as we came in, that actually, we should no longer talk about mental health, we should talk about mental fitness.

‘His dedication to this cause strengthens our mission.’

Harry’s solo itinerary

Monday, September 23

AM: Harry appears on a panel discussing: The global mental health crisis among young people at the Concordia summit for The Diana Award.

PM: He will appear on stage for an event promoting the work of the Halo Trust, the charity for which his late mother loved, famously walking through an Angolan minefield in 1997.

Tuesday, September 24

The Duke of Sussex is expected to attend the ‘Protectors of African Parks” benefit gala

Wednesday, September 25 to Friday September 27

Harry will attend a number of other events in relation to the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week and Climate Week.

Monday, September 30

Prince Harry also told the panel mental health was a ‘very, very important subject that affects every single one of us from top to bottom, from the youngest to the oldest’.

The royal, who cracked his knuckles and looked nervous as he sat down on stage, also spoke of the importance of mental wellness at the event where participants talked about their climate anxiety.

The duke personally interviewed Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang from Indonesia and Christina Williams from Jamaica, who received The Legacy Award in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, joking: ‘For some reason I’ve been given the microphone to ask the questions’.

He told them: ‘I applaud you for having the confidence to be on this stage. I know my mother would be incredibly proud of you guys. Your activism is true to how my mother lived her life’.

Harry, wearing a navy suit and tie with a Diana Award pin on his lapel, asked: ‘Do you feel like leaders and people in positions of power are listening to you?’, adding that he wanted the The Diana Award to help their campaigning to tackle climate change and bring influence around the world.

And when asked what gives him hope for the future he said: ‘I have said it before years ago and I’ll say it again. The younger generation is what gives me hope. The courage you have gives me hope. Everyone of us needs courage to move the dial in this world, probably more than ever. We need to listen and act on what you say because it is your future that will be stolen and that is unacceptable’.

His decision to jet off alone to New York to meet royals and celebrities before a solo trip to Britain shows he is determined to ‘carve out’ new opportunities and ‘assert himself’ after turning 40, experts told MailOnline today.