Prince Harry Urges Nominations for Charity Awards After Ex-Prince Andrew's Arrest

The Duke of Sussex discussed the upcoming 2026 WellChild Awards, which celebrate children with complex medical needs and their caregivers.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Prince Harry appeared in a video on Friday, February 20th, 2026, urging people to submit nominations for the WellChild Awards, an annual ceremony hosted by the charity he has been a patron of for the past 18 years. The video came a day after Harry's uncle, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested on his 66th birthday for alleged misconduct in public office.

Why it matters

The WellChild Awards celebrate the bravery and resilience of children facing complex medical challenges, as well as the dedication of their loved ones and caregivers. As a long-time patron of the charity, Prince Harry's message shines a light on the important work of WellChild and the inspiring stories of the award recipients. This comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding the royal family following the arrest of Prince Andrew.

The details

In the video, Prince Harry praised the children and young people recognized by the WellChild Awards, saying they "meet life with positivity, courage, humor and an extraordinary joy for living." He encouraged the public to nominate individuals they know who are caring for a child with complex medical needs, whether it be a friend, family member, or someone in their local community. Harry noted that the nominations help tell the stories of these extraordinary individuals and bring much-deserved recognition to their selfless acts of care and compassion.

  • The 2026 WellChild Awards ceremony is typically held later in the year, with nominations set to close on March 16, 2026.
  • Prince Harry's video message was released on Friday, February 20, 2026, a day after his uncle, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested on his 66th birthday.

The players

Prince Harry

The Duke of Sussex, who has been a patron of the WellChild charity for the past 18 years.

WellChild

A U.K. charity that hosts an annual awards ceremony celebrating children with complex medical needs and their caregivers.

Prince Andrew

The former Prince Andrew, also known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was arrested on February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

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What they’re saying

“Every year, one of the moments I look forward to the most is spending time with the children and families that I meet through the WellChild Awards.”

— Prince Harry (people.com)

“These children and young people are living with complex medical needs, challenges that most of us can barely imagine. And yet time and again they meet life with positivity, courage, humor and an extraordinary joy for living.”

— Prince Harry (people.com)

“By nominating, you're not just recognizing an achievement, you're telling a story. You're shining a light on extraordinary bravery, on resilience and kindness that's happening in communities across the United Kingdom every day – often unseen and too often uncelebrated.”

— Prince Harry (people.com)

What’s next

Nominations for the 2026 WellChild Awards are set to close on March 16, 2026, ahead of the ceremony later in the year.

The takeaway

Prince Harry's heartfelt message about the WellChild Awards comes at a time of ongoing controversy surrounding the royal family, following the arrest of his uncle, Prince Andrew. The awards shine a light on the extraordinary resilience and kindness of children facing complex medical challenges and their caregivers, offering a positive and uplifting counterpoint to the family's recent troubles.