Prince Harry Shares How He Lifted His Kids’ Spirits During Tough Times
Prince Harry shared his experience of lifting the spirits of his two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, as they gear up for a new school year following the family’s relocation to the U.K.
“At breakfast this morning, they were feeling a little bit of the Monday morning blues,” Harry, 42, mentioned to Hello! prior to the 2026 WellChild Awards at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on Monday, September 21. “There are always things like Sunday night blues or feelings related to boarding school… especially after being away or just before school starts.”
The Duke of Sussex shared how he brightened his kids’ moods by revealing that he would be attending the WellChild Awards—an annual charity event honoring those who support and care for seriously ill children in the U.K., alongside the children themselves.
“At breakfast, I thought, ‘You know what? You’re acting a bit tricky, so I’m going to let you know what I’m doing tonight,’” he disclosed. “They were genuinely intrigued and asked a lot of questions. So, along with my work and their mum’s work, anything we can do to foster that awareness, I believe is incredibly important.”
Prince Harry and Gaby Roslin pose with the WellChild winners. Aaron Chown – Pool/Getty Images
Harry, who has been a patron of WellChild since 2007, noted that his commitment to the charity has only intensified since becoming a father. (Harry and wife Meghan Markle welcomed Archie in May 2019 and Lilibet in June 2021.)
“Becoming a parent changes everything. It’s not that before I was a parent these children didn’t matter as much, but you suddenly understand how grateful you are to have healthy kids,” he remarked.
The prince continued, “And day in and day out, after kids have been out of school for 11 weeks… you realize that in that room with those parents, you truly can’t complain about anything. While everything is relative, the inspiration I derive from these individuals—both the kids and their parents—nourishes me for a whole year.”
Harry attended the WellChild Awards solo on Monday—just as he did for the Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner and Awards in London on September 7, marking his first U.K. appearance since moving back. (Meghan, 45, has shared glimpses of their new life in the U.K. via social media but has yet to make any public engagements in an official capacity.)
The royal couple returned to the U.K. at the end of last month, just in time for their children to start at a new school—only to soon announce a change in Archie and Lilibet’s educational arrangements.
“The decision for the children to change schools was made after discussions with the family’s security team concerning the practicality of their current setup,” a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stated to Hello! on September 14. “The parents are immensely grateful to all the teachers and staff for the dedication and care they have provided to their family. This choice should not be seen as a negative reflection on the school or the exceptional care the children received there.”
Previously, the Sussexes lived in California for six years after stepping down from their senior royal roles in 2020.
