For the second year in a row, Meghan and Harry attended the WellChild Awards together to meet with the inspirational honorees.
They were welcomed by officials upon arrival – a video of them arriving
Harry has been a patron of the organization for 12 years, with the evening marking Meghan’s second time attending. It’s well-known that this charity is very close to both Harry and Meghan’s heart.
Speaking at the 2017 WellChild Awards, Harry said:
“These awards were created to shine a bright light on an amazingly brave group of children and young people, on their lives, and on the resolve they and their families have shown to overcome challenges.
Founded in 1977, WellChild aims to support supports children with serious illnesses and their families. They choose their annual award winners from among their beneficiaries, to spotlight their bravery and persistence.
Harry became patron for the organization back in 2007 and has attended the award ceremony most years since.
families – an occasion where Harry regularly doles out his trademark hugs and charms the room of Once Meghan and Harry arrived, they attended a pre-awards reception, meeting winners and their caregivers, families, and friends with his close attention to their individual stories.
Omid Scobie noted that Meghan mentioned that Archie attended his first playgroup earlier in the day. “I just took Archie for his first class. It was a lot of fun. He loved it,” she said. You can watch the clip below
HelloMagazine reported:
‘Harry and Meghan were chatting to Milly Sutherland, 11, and her mother Angela. Angela said:
“She took him to one of these baby classes today and she said they had loads of fun together. She said it was really good fun.” There was plenty of laughter as the couple joined the mum and daughter, and Milly pulled a strand of her red hair, telling the duke: “Snap”. Harry giggled and asked: “Can I borrow some?” When asked if Archie has red hair, Meghan and Harry said he definitely has “you can see it in his eyebrows”. “Harry said he’d had no hair for five months, but Meghan told him she had taken him to the playgroup, and she said there were other children there with the same amount of hair or even less.”
Meghan and Harry also met with six-year-old tiara-clad Lyla-Rose O’Donovan who has undergone multiple surgeries for a life-threatening brain tumor and was the recipient of the Inspirational Child Award winner. Harry listened as her father, Paul, told them how her ongoing condition often leaves her with extreme fatigue. “You’re so brave,” Harry told her.
Lyla-Rose and her sister Lilley have created a Facebook page called “Lyla and Lilley’s Stars” where they give out certificates to award other children coping with illness for their bravery. She shared handmade “bravely bracelets” with Meghan and Harry, who was so happy for them. “You made them for us and you didn’t make one for yourself,” Harry added: “I’m always going to treasure this.”
Her father Paul told them: “She’s a huge fan of Archie, she was hoping you would bring the baby.” With Meghan replying, “Oh sorry! It’s bedtime for him now!”
They also met 10-year-old William Magee from Prenton, Wirral, who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – a rare condition which affects muscle function – when he was just two years old. He presented the couple with a romper printed with the slogan, “Anyone can be a hero.” The piece is from a collection he hopes to make a business from, using different positive messages to inspire others. “It’s very impressive what you have done,” Harry told him adding. “You must be the big man on campus.”
They also met with 12-year-old Mia Thorne “who is an ambassador for two disability charities and a member of the Youth Parliament of Wales.”
She was a very little girl when she was told that would never be able to walk after being diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. The little strong girl decided to overcome her odds, and surprised doctors and professionals all over the work.
Harry and Meghan had to communicate with 16-year-old Emilie Subiger via an iPad, who lost the ability to speak after a brainstem tumor resection in 2018 led to a brain injury. She also lost her mobility skills “I don’t think I could do that so well,” Harry told her as she typed out words. “My spelling isn’t as good!”
Meghan and Harry were given gifts for Archie ahead of the awards
Then it was time for the ceremony itself – with Harry delivering a very emotional speech where he acknowledged how being a new father gave him a new perspective on the organization and those it supported.
“Last year, when my wife and I attended, we knew we were expecting our first child—no one else did at the time, but we did,” he said before taking a pause at the podium, seemingly holding back tears.
“And I remember squeezing Meghan’s hand so tight during the awards, both of us thinking what it would be like to be parents one day, and more so, what it would be like to do everything we could to protect and help our child should they be born with immediate challenges or become unwell over time,” he continued. “And now, as parents, being here and speaking to all of you pulls at my heartstrings in a way I could have never understood until I had a child of my own.”
Harry and Meghan posed for a photograph with award winner William Magee
A group photo was also taken:
It was an amazing night as usual filled with emotional moments and heartbreaking stories
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2362531340539180
A hug for Meghan from the performers
The Duchess of Sussex looked incredibly chic as she stepped out for tonights event!
Meghan wore a green dress by Italian label P.A.R.O.S.H – with its boat neckline, bow detail waist and knee-length pencil skirt, this dress is very ladylike, and I love the forest green hue.
Look familiar? This is a recycled piece that Meghan first debuted for her engagement interview!
Over her shoulders, Meghan wore the Sentaler Long Wide Collar Wrap coat she donned for her first Christmas church service at Sandringham.
She carried the Montunas Tortoiseshell Scarf bag
And wore Manolo Blahnik BB pumps in cognac
She accessorised the look wtih a pair of Hera Gold and Diamond Studs