07 September 2023 , 21:47
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At the Wellchild Awards on Thursday night, Prince Harry noticeably attended alone.
His wife, Meghan Markle, didn't attend the charity's award show for seriously ill children. Harry gave a speech at the show and spectators wondered if he would bring it up. Instead, he spoke about it with the family of an honorary.
The family of Ruky Anighoro, 14, was told by the Duke of Sussex that Meghan was "very upset that she couldn't be here" and mentioned that the couple had a "busy week" ahead of them. The couple are attending Prince Harry's Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany next week, and is one of the reasons for his short trip back to his homeland.
Prince Harry attended the awards alone (Hello!/Youtube)Ruky won the Special Recognition award at the event for his hard work in school amid his many surgeries for brittle bone disease. The teen from Thamesmead, Kent talked to Harry about his love for Chelsea FC and rapped his song Watch Me Now, a song he wrote with his sister Faith and released it on his 14th birthday earlier this year. "Serious talent," Harry had said after he heard the performance.
Though Meghan wasn't there, Harry mentioned his family while giving his speech at the award show, joking that he had five children of his own. "As a father of two, and three dogs so basically five souls, 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," he said, addressing the families. Harry is father to two children, Archie, four, and Lilibet, two.
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Harry mentioned Meghan while speaking to a family
He's a patron of WellChild (Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)"So to the parents and carers in this room, you have my sincerest admiration and respect. The level of support and responsibility you share daily is unrivalled and without fail," he added, "You deserve all the assistance you need, whether it's training, enough skilled carers to help shoulder the increasing demand of 24/7 care routines, or simply providing time and space for you to take a break once in a while." He added: "You are proof that not all super heroes wear capes."
The awards show fell on the eve of the first anniversary of the Queen's death. The prince mentioned his late grandmother in his speech Thursday night as well. "As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last as my grandmother passed away," he said to the packed room, "As you also 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 why I know that exactly one year on she's looking down on us on all of us tonight, happy we're together and continuing to spotlight such an incredible community."