Prince Harry delivered a powerful speech in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine — the capital of my motherland.
The content of his speech, the way it was written, and its delivery are impressive. I have decided to analyse it, and this analysis is the start of my new series, Elocution Lessons with Prince Harry.
Content
As a half-Russian and half-Ukrainian who was born in the Soviet Union, I can say that Harry’s speech was well researched.
Harry immediately connects with the audience by saying that he speaks to people as a former soldier of the Afghan war. He further strengthens this bond by saying, “I will not be speaking about Ukraine; I will be speaking directly to you.”
He uses rhetorical devices right from the start and throughout his speech.
Alliterations that help the audience remember what is said:
“difficult to describe”
“courage over caution”
"commitment with consistency"
"decisive actions delivered quickly"
The Rule of Three:
“strength, dignity and purpose”
“silence, delay and lack of accountability”
“actively, consistently and collectively”
“Ukraine earned respect through its leadership, through its resilience and through its conduct”
Repetition and the power of three make the message stand out and become more memorable:
“clarity of what matters, clarity of what is at stake, and clarity of who is carrying this burden”,
“still standing, still fighting, and still leading”,
“shared mission and shared responsibility”.
Contrasts multiply the depth and impact of what is being said:
“not in speeches but in action”
“not strength in arms but strength in unity”
“not just resilience but innovation under fire”
“not just survival but purpose”
“Strength is not measured by how loudly we speak, but by how consistently we stand for the values we hold dear”
Speech Delivery
Harry was reading the speech, yet he looked at the audience consistently and maintained good eye contact.
He emphasises key words and uses pauses effectively — allowing important ideas to land.
The pace of his speech was easy to follow, neither rushed nor slow.
What Harry could have done better
Three things stood out to me:
Uneven audience engagement
Harry often directed his gaze to the right side of the audience. A more balanced distribution of attention would have strengthened the connection across the room.
Posture
One shoulder appeared slightly raised — a small detail, but posture influences perceived confidence and authority.
Limited use of gestures
His hands remained mostly behind the lectern. Visible, controlled gestures could have reinforced key messages. At moments, slight awkward hand movement suggested some nervousness.
In my next edition, I will continue elocution lessons with Prince Harry
Stay tuned
Warmly
Olga Smith