Prince Harry turned out at the WellChild Awards in London to recognise some of Britain’s bravest children – but came away with some prizes of his own from one of the winners.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, was given four glass hearts by inspiring youngster Scarlett Cripps – one for himself, and one each for wife Meghan Markle and children Archie and Lilibet – so he can keep them close even when he’s visiting Britain on a solo trip.
Scarlett, 10, was being recognised for her inspiring attitude to life with a number of complex medical conditions, giving out bravery stickers to other children in hospital despite her own situation – and her generosity continued at the event last night.
She told the Duke the hearts were a token to carry with him ‘if he feels down’, Harry told the inspiring young girl he would take the crystal hearts out later – adding that the gift would remind him of his ‘lovely wife’.
Scarlett was presented with an Inspirational Award at the ceremony, held at the capital’s Royal Lancaster Hotel, in recognition of her optimism despite spending much of her childhood being treated for a number of complex medical conditions.
Prince Harry was given a gift of four glass hearts by youngster Scarlett Cripps (pictured with mother Aby)
The Duke of Sussex (pictured arriving at the event last night) has been a patron of WellChild for more than a decade
He hailed the children receiving awards as ‘little legends’, meeting them one-to-one backstage (pictured with award winner Noah Nicholson and his mother Tracey)Â
Scarlett was seen handing Harry the small gift bag containing the trinkets – one for him and for wife Meghan and children Archie and Lilibet
Aby and Scarlett Cripps on the purple carpet for the WellChild awards at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel
She collected her award in front of mother Aby and little sister Sienna, seven (pictured with her)
The Basingstoke girl, who attended the event with her mother Aby and younger sister Sienna, seven, said it was ‘really exciting’ to have sat and spent time with Harry, who has been a patron of WellChild for more than a decade.
She told People magazine: ‘It was really exciting. We were talking about his charities.’
Her mother added: ‘Scarlett told Harry she filled the crystal hearts with love and whenever he had a bad day or sad day he had to squeeze the heart and it would show him how special he was and make him smile.
‘He said it was a lovely gesture and he hadn’t seen his wife and his children because he was travelling here, so he’ll take it out later and squeeze them and it will remind him of his lovely wife.’
Aby continued: ‘They’re little baby crystal hearts. She said he does so much for other people as well.
‘She’s getting an award tonight for the stuff she does for others and wanted to give him something back, as well.’
Harry is believed to have travelled to the UK on Sunday to attend the WellChild Awards, where he used his keynote speech to hail the ‘little legends’ who were being recognised at the ceremony.
‘Huge congratulations, you little legends. I salute you. We salute you,’ he beamed.
‘The WellChild Awards is an event that never fails to inspire me.
‘The stories of young people who battle against the odds, living lives filled with medical procedures, hospital stays, endless appointments, they remind us all of the strength of the human spirit.
‘For many of us it is a daily life we can hardly imagine, and yet somehow, the young people I meet are always smiling and every room they walk into seemingly lights up with warmth and positivity.’Â
Harry spoke about his role as a father in his speech: ‘As a parent, I know a little about the emotional rollercoaster of parenting.
‘But, when I hear about the care many of you mums, dads and family members provide; the level of round-the-clock care you offer; the skills you’ve had to learn; and the battles for support that you fight every single day – I am truly in awe.’
He also told one winner: ‘My award is being here with you guys.’Â
Anya Olweny, 12, named as Inspirational Sibling, asked Harry if he had a passport and said: ‘He said he still has to have one.’Â
Noah Nicholson (pictured) attends the Wellchild Awards 2024 with his mother at the Royal Lancaster Hotel todayÂ
Prince Harry leaves the Royal Lancaster hotel in central London after the event
Jude Allen, 14, meets Prince Harry at the WellChild Awards 2024
Lewis Connett, 11, meets Prince Harry at the event on MondayÂ
George Shippey, aged 16, meets Prince Harry as the Duke of Sussex attends the WellChild AwardsÂ
Anya Olweny, aged 12, is one of the children attending the Wellchild Awards 2024 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel
Harry also met both Beverley Knight and Oti Mabuse in the VIP room after the awards, both of whom were celebrity guests at the event.Â
Elsewhere, Harry was upstaged by boisterous young Noah Nicholson, seven, who threw his comfort toys away as he spoke to the Duke and laughed as the royal picked them up.
When Noah’s mother Tracey, 42, apologised for her son’s antics, Harry replied: ‘Don’t apologise, I love it’.
He recognised one of the toys, a giraffe in the shape of a blanket called George, and called it ‘lovey’ – an American term of endearment – as he joked: ‘Every parent has about six spare.’
Grimsby boy Noah, who lives life to the full despite living with cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease, was named an Inspirational Child for his indefatigable optimism despite undergoing 28 operations since birth.
Earlier in the day, Harry could be seen conversing with inspiring children bravely battling illness, including a child named George, who has a passion for powerchair football and disability inclusion in sports.Â
Other award recipients included Lewis Connett, 11, who taught himself to play cricket one-handed despite living with Apert Syndrome, a condition that affects the bones in his heads, hands and feet.
Jude Allen, 14, from Portsmouth, was also named an Inspirational Young Person for his campaigning to encourage organ donation after undergoing more than 100 surgeries including two transplants that have helped him to live a happy life.Â
The Duke has flown in to the UK after a week away from his family carrying out a number of pseudo-royal engagements in New York.
Harry and his bodyguard arriving at the Royal Lancaster Hotel yesterday afternoon
Myleene Klass (left) and Rosie Nixon (right) arrive to attend the WellChild Awards ceremony in London
WellChild boss Matt James (pictured with the Duke yesterday) said Harry’s continued involvement with the charity was ‘huge’
The Duke of Sussex is seen here with Christopher Anderson, who nominated Caroline Anderson for Best Nurse, during the WellChild Childrens’ Health Awards ceremony at Lord’s Cricket Ground in north-west London in October 2007
He was whisked into the WellChild awards ceremony in London yesterday – one of the few UK-based events he supports in person post-Megxit.
The bash celebrates the achievements and resilience of seriously ill children and their families.
Harry, who has been patron of the charity for the past 15 years, has no plans to see his father Charles, 75, or his brother the Prince of Wales, 42, according to People.Â
When he was in the UK for a church service to mark 10 years of the Invictus Games in May, he also swerved his relatives.
And after attending Lord Robert Fellowes’ funeral in Norfolk at the end of August he apparently stayed with his mother’s brother, Earl Spencer.
William is believed to be in Windsor with his family as the Princess of Wales continues to recover from cancer. King Charles is in Scotland, at Balmoral.
King Charles is currently in Balmoral for his summer holiday. A spokesperson for the Duke declined to comment on whether Harry will see his family when approached by the Reuters news agency.
As WellChild’s patron for more than 15 years, Harry has regularly attended the awards ceremony staged by the organisation, the national charity for seriously ill children and their families.
WellChild chief executive Matt James said Harry’s involvement with the charity was ‘huge for us’.
He added: ‘It does two things, it allows us to give our inspiring winners a night they will never forget, a night that will always stay with them.
‘But also, it provides us with a platform to tell their stories which is really important for a group of families whose challenges often go unrecognised and misunderstood.’
The Duke was in good spirits as he arrived for the award ceremony yesterday – one of the few UK events he continues to support post-Megxit
The awards celebrate the inspiring qualities of some of the country’s seriously ill young people and the dedication of those who keep them healthy and happy, including health, social care and education professionals.
In past years Harry has been joined by wife Meghan but travelled alone to London from their home in the celebrity enclave of Montecito in California where the couple established a new life for themselves with Archie and Lilibet.
He continues to battle the UK Government in court to have his taxpayer-funded royal protection reinstated. It was removed following his decision to step back from royal duties in early 2020.
Harry has previously revealed he would not return to the UK with his family without proper security, citing fears that Meghan could be the target of a knife or acid attack by a ‘lone actor’.
He was in New York last week, where he called on governments to work more closely with young people, warning about the online dangers children faced and criticising the leaders of social media companies for not doing more to protect them.
He also appeared in a segment on the NBC flagship late-night talk programme The Tonight Show, where he was shown shouting and swearing as he joined the host Jimmy Fallon walking through a ‘haunted maze’ attraction.