Prince Harry Returns to London for 2026 WellChild Awards

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrived solo just after 4 p.m. UK time on Monday for the 2026 WellChild Awards in west London. Town & Country

He came alone. The evening ceremony took place at a hotel in west London and honored seriously ill children from across the United Kingdom.

WellChild is the country's national charity for seriously ill children. It supports children and their families, work it has done since 1977.

Prince Harry has been its patron, an honorary supporter who lends his name to the cause, since 2007. He kept that role when he stepped back in 2020 as a working royal, a member of the family who carries out official duties full time for the monarch.

It is one of his longest ties. By the time he flew to London for the 2024 awards, he had already attended 12 previous ceremonies. That 2024 event was held at a hotel in central London.

What makes this stand out is the continuity. The children change each year. Prince Harry returns.

Last year, one winner was a girl from Stoke-on-Trent, a city in central England, who had endured 35 major surgeries. She met Prince Harry after receiving her award. BBC

This year's path started months ago. Prince Harry issued a nationwide call to find the country's most courageous children when nominations opened in February. WellChild Those nominations are now closed.

WellChild announced on Sept. 10 that its patron would attend the ceremony on Sept. 21 in London. WellChild The 2026 awards are held in association with GSK, the British pharmaceutical company.