Prince Harry delighted children by engaging in a playful balloon sword fight at the WellChild Awards in London, shortly after arriving in the UK for the first time since April.
The Duke of Sussex made his entrance at the Royal Lancaster Hotel for the ceremony dressed smartly in a suit, gearing up to deliver a speech as part of the awards’ 20th-anniversary celebration.
After a photo session with the Vice Chairman of WellChild, Prince Harry interacted with the children set to receive awards, spending quality time with each of them.
In a heartwarming moment captured on WellChild’s Instagram stories, Prince Harry met a young girl named Gwen, who proudly displayed her fancy trainers before engaging him in a balloon sword duel. Gwen, a nine-year-old, also presented Prince Harry with gifts for his children, Archie and Lilibet – two purple football jerseys from Brighton Hove & Albion, personalized with his kids’ names and ages.
Expressing his gratitude, Harry exclaimed, “Best gift ever, thank you so much. This is so cool, it’s going to make them so happy.” Another award recipient, 13-year-old Ansel Hayward, gifted Harry wrapped books for his children.
During the event, Prince Harry conversed with six-year-old Esmee, an award recipient, as she admired his polka dot tie. Esmee’s frilly socks caught Harry’s attention, prompting him to comment, “My daughter would love these socks.” Esmee’s mother, Toni Hynes, shared Esmee’s excitement about the ceremony.
Toni later shared with HELLO! magazine her joy at being present at the event and praised Harry’s friendly demeanor and patience.
Before the award ceremony commenced, Prince Harry took the time to commend the courage and strength of the parents and caregivers in attendance. As part of the 20th-anniversary celebrations, previous award winners were invited back, allowing Harry to reconnect with them and reminisce about past ceremonies.
Prince Harry’s participation in the WellChild Awards is in line with his longstanding role as the charity’s patron, a position he has held for over 15 years.
Speculation arose about a potential meeting between Prince Harry and his father, who is undergoing cancer treatment and was in Scotland over the weekend.
The WellChild awards, which honor the achievements and resilience of seriously ill children and their families, coincided with the third anniversary of the late Queen’s passing.
During the ceremony, Prince Harry will deliver a speech, engage with ill children and their families, and present an award to an inspirational child. His involvement with the charity as a patron spans 17 years.
The WellChild charity focuses on supporting children and young people with complex medical needs to thrive at home rather than in hospital.
In a statement prior to the event, Prince Harry highlighted the courage of young individuals facing health challenges and the importance of support from caregivers.
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