The Duke of Sussex discussed the upcoming 2026 awards for the charity WellChild, which he's been a patron of for the past 18 years
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NEED TO KNOW
- Prince Harry appeared in a video for a U.K. charity he’s a patron of on Friday, Feb. 20
- The Duke of Sussex urged people to place their nominations for the WellChild Awards, an annual ceremony hosted by the charity for children with complex medical needs
- 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
Prince Harry has released a heartfelt message about a charity close to his heart as the royal family continues to make headlines amid the arrest of the former Prince Andrew.
Speaking in a video shared on Friday, Feb. 20, Harry discussed the upcoming 2026 awards for the charity WellChild, which he's been a patron of for the past 18 years. The awards celebrate youngsters who face complex health needs, as well as their loved ones and carers who look after them.
The Duke of Sussex said in the clip, "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."
Harry continued, "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," per the video, which appears to have been shot in the Montecito, Calif. home he shares with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
"In their smiles, their determination and their kindness, they show us what strength truly looks like. The WellChild Awards is a truly special evening. It's about celebrating these remarkable young people," the father of two added. "It’s about recognizing the siblings who so often put their own needs aside to care for a brother or sister. And of course it's about honoring the parents, the carers, the nurses and professionals who give so much of themselves every single day with dedication, love and compassion."
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Harry went on, "But these awards can only happen with your help. So, if you know a child who learned hospital routines before playground games, a sibling who quietly became a carer or a parent or professional whose life revolves around constant selfless care, please nominate them for a WellChild Award. They might be a friend in a different part of the United Kingdom, or a stranger you see in your community every single week. We want to hear about them."
"By nominating, you're not just recognizing an achievement, you're telling a story," the Duke of Sussex shared. "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. So thank you. Thank you for supporting WellChild, and please get nominating, and we very much hope to see some of you at the 2026 WellChild Awards."
Nominations are set to close on March 16 ahead of the ceremony, which is typically held later in the year. Last year's awards were held in September.
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Harry's video was released amid controversy surrounding the royal family and the former Prince Andrew's arrest. The Duke of Sussex not publicly addressed his uncle's arrest.
The former Duke of York, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on the morning of Thursday, Feb. 19 — his 66th birthday — at the home where he is staying on King Charles' Sandringham estate in Norfolk. He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
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British authorities are investigating an allegation that Andrew shared confidential information with the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, while the former was serving as a trade envoy for the U.K.
Andrew has not been charged and has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. He was photographed leaving the Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk on Thursday in the backseat of a vehicle after spending approximately 11 hours in custody, PEOPLE previously reported.
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Following news of the arrest, an insider told PEOPLE that Prince Harry has long felt frustrated by comparisons to his uncle, Andrew. Sources said Harry's frustration predates Andrew’s arrest, but it now offers insight into how Harry has viewed the family’s internal fault lines for years.
“He was frustrated by the comparisons. It was never fair to lump them together,” an insider said. “Harry served his country, did the job well and never engaged in misconduct — yet lost security and housing, while Andrew was protected for years.”
“In this moment, it’s sad and embarrassing for the entire family,” the source shared. “It leaves a stain on everybody.”
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