Prince Harry is celebrating two decades of WellChild.
The Duke of Sussex attended the 2026 WellChild Awards at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Monday, September 21, where he marked 20 years of the organisation by delivering an emotional speech.
He began his speech saying, “Good evening everyone, and thank you for the warm welcome. Well, another year, another WellChild awards, and not a dry eye in the house. Sounds about right! I’d like to thank GSK again for their continued support, not only of the WellChild Awards, but of WellChild and its mission as a whole.”
“These Awards are always a very special evening because they give us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate an extraordinary group of children and young people living with complex medical needs, as well as the incredible families who give it everything they've got every single day,” Harry continued.
He added, “Tonight is also about recognising the remarkable people who go above and beyond to help those children, young people and families live full and meaningful lives. And that really is at the heart of what WellChild is all about.”
The Duke of Sussex noted that this year is particularly special because it marks the 20th anniversary of the WellChild Nurse programme.
“Twenty years is quite a milestone, and it is a wonderful opportunity to pay tribute to an incredible community of nurses — many of whom are here with us tonight — who make such a profound difference to families across the UK,” he said.
King Charles’s younger son emotionally added, “I was fortunate enough to see some of that work for myself when I visited Birmingham Children's Hospital this summer and had the chance to meet several WellChild Nurses, as well as some of the families whose lives they have helped to transform. What really struck me was just how much their role evolves.”
“It is, of course, about helping children to leave hospital and return home. But it is about so much more than that. It is about giving children and young people the confidence and support to thrive at home, at school and within their communities. It's about support parents in every way possible depending on what their needs are. It is giving everything of yourself, everyday, for every person that needs you.”
The father of two went on to state, “For families caring for a young person with complex medical needs, that can sometimes mean feeling overlooked or isolated, at precisely the time when they most need support. And that is why evenings like this matter.”
He concluded the speech saying, “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. So, to all of tonight's winners: you are a shining light for all of us.”
“Thank you for everything you do, for being you, and congratulations once again. Have a wonderful evening,” the Duke of Sussex added.
Founded in 1977, WellChild is a charity that provides care for seriously ill children and young people in the United Kingdom.
