Prince Harry says Queen is ‘looking down on us’ during speech at ahead of first anniversary of her death
Prince Harry has paid tribute to his late grandmother on the eve of the anniversary of her death, as he returned to the UK for the first time in three months.
The Duke of Sussex, speaking at the WellChild Awards ceremony in London on Thursday night, said the Queen “is looking down on all of us”.
“As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away,” he said.
“As you also probably know, she would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her, and that’s precisely why I know exactly one year on that she is looking down on all of us tonight, happy we’re together, continuing to spotlight such an incredible community.”
Prince Harry is in the UK for the first time since June when he travelled to London to give evidence in his privacy case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror.
It is not believed that Harry will meet his father, the King, or his brother, Prince William, during the visit. Harry’s relationship with the pair remains fractured since the publishing of his memoir Spare at the start of the year.
The duke’s appearance at the WellChild Awards comes on the eve of the first anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Last year’s event was held on the day the Queen died, forcing Harry and his wife Meghan to pull out as Harry traveled to Balmoral to be with his family.
The Duke has been a patron of WellChild, a national charity for seriously ill children, for 15 years.
During his speech, he said: “As a father of two – and three dogs, so basically five – I’m acutely aware of the many joys and challenges that come with parenting.
“And that’s with kids who aren’t facing health challenges. So, to the parent carers in the room, you have my sincerest admiration and respect. The level of support and responsibility you share daily is unrivalled and without fail.
“You deserve all the assistance you need – whether it’s training enough skilled carers to help shoulder the increasing demands of 24/7 care routines or simply providing time and space for you to take a break once in a while.
“It is our collective responsibility to continue to provide new and existing resources for you, to advocate on your behalf, and to help in any way we can.
“You are proof that not all superheroes wear capes.”
