Prince Harry was pictured chatting with ill children and their parents today at the WellChild awards in London during a rare visit to the UK without Meghan – with no plans to see his father King Charles who is in Scotland.
The Duke of Sussex, who turned 40 earlier this month, was at a central London hotel just two miles from Buckingham Palace and less than an hour’s drive from Windsor, where Prince William lives with his family.
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.
He also spoke with an award winning woman who helps care for her older brother Edward and is a huge support to her mother.
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.
He was whisked into the WellChild awards ceremony in London this afternoon. It is 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.
When he was in the UK for a church service to mark 10 years of the Invictus Games, he also swerved his relatives then, and after attending Lord Robert Fellowes’ funeral in Norfolk on September 3 he apparently stayed with his mother’s brother, Earl Spencer.
Prince Harry is in London for WellChild today – but is not expected to see his family in the UK
Harry seen chatting to six-year-old Noah, who has complex medical needs, and his mother Tracy
Harry cracks a wide grin as he makes a solo arrival in London
Harry and his bodyguard arrive at the Royal Lancaster Hotel this afternoon
The Duke of Sussex was all smiles on a visit to the city he called home
Harry was chatting as he walked into the 5-star hotel for the charity event
He was whisked into the WellChild awards ceremony in London this afternoon
Harry’s love for WellChild: How Duke has supported the charity
Harry was greeted on the purple carpet at the event, which is close to his heart
Harry swept into London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel to meet children, teenagers and their parents who will be recognised with awards from the charity WellChild
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
Myleene Klass, broadcaster and presenter, arrives to attend the WellChild Awards ceremony in London
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.
The King is believed to be spending time at his Balmoral home and it is believed he has not seen Harry since the duke rushed to his father’s side after Charles’s cancer diagnosis was announced in February.
Harry swept into London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel to meet children, teenagers and their parents who will be recognised with awards from the charity WellChild.
The duke looked relaxed as he began one of only a handful of events he now stages in the UK, following his move to America with his family.
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 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 and their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.
Helen Glover arrives for the annual WellChild Awards 2024 in a stunning brown dress
Charlotte Hawkins attends the Wellchild Awards 2024 in a stunning pink gown
Kate Garraway attends the Wellchild Awards 2024 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel
The presenter wore a light blue suit paired with a roll neck and gold heeled boots on the purple carpet
Rosie Nixon attends the Wellchild Awards 2024 in a sequined gown
British rower Helen Glover was also in attendance for the Wellchild Awards today
Olympian freestyle swimmer Tom Dean pictured on the purple carpet at the Wellchild awards
Oti Mabuse attends the Wellchild Awards 2024 in an elegant white dress
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (second right) smiles as he poses with dignitaries at the Wellchild Awards 2024 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel
The Duke of Sussex was all smiles for a rare royal event in the UK – honouring the achievements of youngsters battling serious conditions.
Anya, aged 12, is one of the children attending the Wellchild Awards 2024 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel
Before the event the duke attended a reception to meet the category winners and their families before joining guests for the private awards ceremony
The WellChild 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.
Harry regularly attends the annual event hosted by WellChild, the national charity which provides a nationwide network of nurses, home makeover projects and family support programmes.
Before the event the duke attended a reception to meet the category winners and their families before joining guests for the private awards ceremony.
He will present the Most Inspirational Child (aged four to six) prize and deliver a short speech.
