‘Gingers Unite’: Prince Harry and Ed Sheeran team up for mock video for World Mental Health Day

'Look out for anybody that might be suffering in silence'

The Duke of Sussex has found an unlikely ally in the musician Ed Sheeran, who stars in a lighthearted Instagram video with the royal for World Mental Health Day.

Following a short teaser clip released on Wednesday, @sussexroyal posted the short film featuring the flame-haired duo that begins with Sheeran preparing for the meeting.

“I’m really excited today,” the "Galway Girl" singer says to the camera while a makeup artist shaves his beard. “I’m going to go and film a thing with Prince Harry. He contacted me about doing a charity video with him which you know is going to be good because I’ve long admired him from afar.”

The next shot shows Prince Harry welcoming Sheeran into his home and the two begin to discuss their project, which both men say they are deeply passionate about.

Harry explains that this topic is “not talked about enough” and that “people all over the world are really suffering”.

Sheeran concurs and explains he’s been trying to write a song to raise awareness about the subject.

“That’s exactly what I’m trying to do,” he adds. “People just don’t understand what it’s like for people like us.” Harry looks bemused and asks Sheeran what he means.

“Well you know, with the jokes and the snide comments,” the singer replies. “I just feel like it’s time we stood up and said we’re not going to take this anymore. We are ginger and we’re gonna fight.”

The 35-year-old royal, who has long been an outspoken advocate for various mental health campaigns, says there has been a “slightly awkward” misunderstanding and proceeds to explain that he wants to tackle the stigma surrounding mental illness, not red-haired people.

“There might’ve been a miscommunication, but this is about World Mental Health Day,” Prince Harry says, to which Sheeran feigns awareness and nods before promptly deleting the words “GINGERS UNITE” from a document on his laptop.

The parody portion of the clip ends with the two men speaking sincerely to the camera about World Mental Health day.

Prince Harry urges viewers to take care of one another, saying: “Guys, this World Mental Health Day, reach out, make sure your friends, strangers, look out for anybody that might be suffering in silence. We’re all in this together.”

Sheeran nods in agreement before adding: “Thanks for watching.”