Prince Harry recently honored both his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and the courageous young recipients of the WellChild Awards 2025 during an emotionally charged day in Windsor. He placed an official wreath at the Queen’s place of rest in Windsor Castle. From there, he went to the annual awards ceremony and joined us all in recognizing the exceptional power of children with complex health needs. This two-part visit highlighted his long-standing ties to family heritage and philanthropic work.
The busy day started with Prince Harry’s attendance to the Queen’s funeral at her burial place. Using gardenias, partridges, and other elements, he created an expression of personal mourning and tribute to his grandmother’s contributions. Shortly thereafter, he made his way to the WellChild Awards, an event that the prince has supported as royal patron for 17 years. This was his 15th tenure on the field at this special event, celebrating the strength and resilience of youth and families affected by cancer.
During the awards show, Prince Harry went on stage to present the Inspirational Child award. He paid tribute to Esmée, an amazing little girl who was born prematurely at only 28 weeks. Esmée has gone through 35 surgeries during her young life with incredible courage. During his speech, Prince Harry spoke of his lifelong association with WellChild. He underscored the need for the awards in helping shine a light on the heroic narratives of these young people.
“For 20 years these Awards have highlighted the courage of young people living with complex health needs and shone a light on the devoted caregivers – family and professionals – who support them every step of the way,” – Prince Harry
His Royal Highness Prince Harry remembered warmly his first visit to the WellChild Awards. Just like 18 years ago, he could just tell by the energy in the room.
“I still remember my very first WellChild Awards, eighteen years ago…the love and energy in the room was palpable,” – Prince Harry
He underscored the fact that every child in attendance was a promise to their families. They embodied optimism for all Americans from coast to coast. His speech was inspiring, full of vigor, calling on everyone in the audience to help provide WellChild’s gifts.
“More than ever, WellChild’s mission must be our shared priority,” – Prince Harry
Beyond presenting awards, Prince Harry interacted with other attendees in a fun and friendly way. He even goofed around in a pretend swordfight with nine-year-old Gwen, with balloon swords, showing his fun, down-to-earth demeanor. In return, Gwen impressed with a touching gesture of her own, gifting the King a Brighton and Hove Albion football shirt geared towards Prince Archie.
The Sentebale event gave Prince Harry an opportunity to hear directly from families and understand their story. He knelt down for selfies, and sat and listened to their stories, perhaps surprising many with the realization of what community support can produce.
“Keep fighting. Keep smiling. And above all, keep showing us what strength, courage and joy really look like,” – Prince Harry
As he finished his speech, he challenged each of us to think about how we could help accelerate WellChild’s important mission.
“This is your moment. While we reflect on twenty years of these Awards, the truth is that you are the story,” – Prince Harry
