Prince Harry shares a secret for World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is a significant way to honor those on the front lines of the fight against the disease, and to acknowledge how far we've come over the last few decades. But World AIDS Day is also a moment to stop and recognize how much work must still be done, particularly when it comes to fighting the stigma associated with the disease that keeps many people throughout the world from seeking support and treatment.

Among those marking the day is Britain's Prince Harry, founder of the AIDS charity Sentebale, which supports children who are victims of extreme poverty and HIV and AIDS in Lesotho, in southern Africa. Now he wants to remind the public that stigma, shame and silence about HIV and AIDS can kill. The prince and other celebrities are encouraging people to share their secrets to show solidarity with people touched by the disease by using the Twitter hashtag #FeelNoShame.

"We are turning this World AIDS Day into a day in which no one should feel any shame about their secrets," he explained. "Myself and many others will be sharing secrets of our own throughout the day and we're asking everyone else to do the same."

So what's Prince Harry's deep, dark secret? He shared it in a video posted on YouTube (watch it above).

"Believe it or not I get incredibly nervous before public speaking, no matter how big the crowd or the audience," he revealed in the video released on Monday. "Despite the fact that I laugh and joke all the time I get incredibly nervous -- anxious actually -- before going into rooms full of people when I'm wearing a suit. Now that I've confessed that I'll probably be even more worried that people are looking at me."

Prince Harry's non-profit organization Sentebale, which he founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, encourages children to discuss concerns about their illness with medical professionals and peers. It also supports local grassroots organizations to deliver financial assistance to the neediest of children in the country.

"Globally, HIV is the second highest cause of death amongst those aged 10 to 19 years old and it is the number one cause of death across Africa," he said in another video, posted by the group on Friday. "One tragic issue, in particular is the shame and stigma linked to HIV. This causes thousands of children to needlessly die each year because they're keeping their illness a secret, and not getting the medical attention that they need. "

You can help spread the message by posting your own secret on Twitter with the hashtag #FeelNoShame.