Prince Harry breaks down during speech
He opened up about learning to become a father.
By Chadielle Fayad
October 15 2019
In an emotional moment, Prince Harryappeared to choke up while giving a speech for the WellChild awards on Tuesday night.
The Duke of Sussex was talking about becoming a father with Meghan Marklewhen he appeared to be holding back tears, with host Gaby Roslin giving him a comforting pat on the back.
WATCH: Prince Harry breaks down at WellChild awards 2019
"They never fail to inspire me - but this year it resonates in a different way because now I'm a father. Last year when my wife and I attended we knew that we were expecting our first child, no one else knew, but we did," Harry said, recalling how he knew Meghan was pregnant with his son Archie at last year's WellChild Awards.
"I remember squeezing Meghan's hand so tight during the awards and both of us thinking what it would be like to be parents one day and more so would it would be like to protect and help our child should they be born with immediate challenges or become unwell over time," he continued.
WATCH: Meghan and Harry attend WellChild Awards 2018 (while the Duchess was pregnant with Archie).
Prince Harry opened up about being a parent to baby Archie and how meeting the WellChild kids and parents gave him a sense of "hope."
"And now talking to all of you as parent pulls at my heart strings, in a way I never could have understood, until I had a child of my own. No parent wants to hear that their child will suffer, that they will face extraordinary challenges - that will affect them throughout their lives," he said, before adding:
"After meeting all the WellChild kids and parents over the years you have managed to give us a sense of optimism, of hope and of strength that no professional, no best selling book or advice could ever give us - so thank you for being you."
According to wellchild.org, The WellChild Awards celebrate "the inspirational qualities of the UK’s seriously ill children and young people, along with those who go that extra mile to make a difference to their lives."
Prince Harry - who became a Patron of WellChild in 2007 - also met with the young winners of each award category and their families.
Meghan and Harry also received gifts for their son Archie, including a baby grow and an emoji balloon.
The Daily Mailreported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex chose WellChild as one of their four charities to benefit from the generous donations made by the public on the occasion of the birth of their son, Archie.
Originally published as Prince Harry cries WellChild Awards Meghan Markle
