Prince Harry Highlights Princess Lilibet’s Favorite Things During WellChild Awards Chat
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While meeting honorees ahead of the annual WellChild Awards at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on Monday, September 21, Prince Harry shared an affectionate personal detail about his five-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet.
A Sweet Exchange Over Pink and Sparkles
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Ahead of the formal ceremony, the Duke of Sussex spent time speaking with six-year-old Margot Jones-Billington, the recipient of the Inspirational Child (Ages 4–6) award. Margot, who sustained a brain injury from a bleed at 10 months old, arrived at the gala in a bright pink dress paired with sparkly footwear:
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Bonding Over Lili’s Favorites: Spotting Margot’s outfit, Harry drew an immediate parallel to his daughter back home in Oxfordshire:“You obviously love sparkles. I have a boy and a girl who are seven and five. My little girl loves sparkles and she loves pink. That’s her favorite color.”
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Belated Birthday Wishes: In return, Margot and her younger sister Adelaide presented Harry with belated 42nd birthday cards and shared a hug with the Duke on stage.
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Housewarming Gifts: Reflecting the family’s high-profile return from California on August 26, several families and charity supporters presented Harry with small housewarming tokens alongside the customary cards and mementos.
Emotional Tribute to Caregivers and Parents
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During his closing address, Harry choked up as he acknowledged the intense round-the-clock dedication required of parents supporting children with severe medical conditions:
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Recognizing the Parental Burden:“To all the mums and dads — most of us will never truly know the emotional ups and downs of your day. But I sincerely hope that you take strength from nights like this. And while we may not know the detail of your day, in this room and beyond, we recognise the commitment of your care and all that comes with it.”
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Holistic Support: Emphasizing WellChild’s core mission beyond medical intervention, Harry highlighted that the work is about “giving children and young people the confidence and support to thrive at home, at school and within their communities… giving everything of yourself, everyday, for every person that needs you.”
Solo Appearances and the Week Ahead
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The WellChild engagement formed the centerpiece of a busy, solitary itinerary for the Duke:
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Meghan’s Countryside Outing: The Duchess of Sussex did not attend the gala, having remained out of the official public spotlight since returning to the UK. Earlier that same afternoon, however, she was seen having lunch with Montecito neighbors Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi at The Three Horseshoes pub in Asthall, Oxfordshire.
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Next Stop: New York City: Harry is scheduled to depart London for Manhattan later this week to speak at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) annual meeting, marking his second appearance at the forum following his 2024 panel on the mental health impacts of digital technology on young people.
