Prince Harry Visits Children’s Hospital Tied to One of His Most Beloved Charities as Part of His U.K. Trip

The Duke of Sussex has continued to support WellChild as patron, returning to the U.K. for related events since moving to California in 2020

Prince Harry is making a very special stop during his U.K. trip.

In his role as patron of WellChild, the Duke of Sussex visited Birmingham Children’s Hospital on Thursday, July 9, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the very first WellChild Nurse. The role, created in 2006 and funded in part by Prince Harry, was designed to support children with complex medical needs and their families, coordinating care between the hospital and home.

Prince Harry, 41, became patron of WellChild in 2007 and has continued to support the charity’s work of improving the quality of life for seriously ill children and their families. He has continued to attend the organization’s events, including the annual WellChild awards in the U.K., despite stepping back from his royal role in 2020 and relocating to California with Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.

WellChild’s Chief Executive, Matt James, told PEOPLE after Harry’s visit that it was a “wonderful day.”

“We are celebrating 20 years of the program this year, and to celebrate that with the Duke, who has contributed to that work, was a really special moment,” James says

The Duke of Sussex “really brought some more sunshine to a bright and sunny day!”

James added, “For me, it was the positivity of him coming that was really felt by everyone in the hospital. There was a real buzz around the hospital with people coming out to see him. The NHS is under a lot of pressure and is going through very challenging times. His presence here has helped given everyone a bit of a lift and a morale boost at a time that is really needed. We were delighted.”

Last year, Prince Harry attended the annual WellChild Awards on Sept. 8, coinciding with the third anniversary of the death of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth. 

In a speech there, he spoke about his longstanding connection to the charity.

“I still remember my very first WellChild Awards, 18 years ago — before the beard, the hair, you know how it is — I walked into the room, and within about three minutes I realized two things: the love and energy in the room was palpable, so too was the unpredictability!” he said, per Hello! magazine.

“And second, that I was completely hooked on it all,” he continued. “This night has been a highlight of my year ever since, and it’s all because of you guys: these children, this cause and our WellChild community. Thank you for showing us the light when all too often darkness can consume us.”

“So much has happened since those early days, for me, for you and for WellChild,” he said. “The world has thrown a fair few challenges our way. But through it all, WellChild has remained rock solid in its mission: to give children and young people with complex medical needs the chance to thrive, not in hospital, but at home, surrounded by family, friends and community.”

Prince Harry has also spoken about how the charity has taken on a different meaning after becoming a father.

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Recalling his and Meghan’s outing at the awards in 2018, before they publicly announced they were expecting their first child, a year later, Prince Harry said, “I remember squeezing Meghan’s hand so tight during the awards, both of us thinking what it would be like to be parents one day. And more so, what it would be like to do everything we could to protect and help our child should they be born with immediate challenges or become unwell over time.”

“And now, as parents, being here and speaking to all of you pulls at my heartstrings in a way I could have never understood until I had a child of my own,” Harry added.

Prince Harry’s outing with WellChild came after he arrived in the U.K. on Monday, July 6 and made a surprise appearance that evening at the premiere of his friend Misan Harriman’s documentary.

The next day, he attended the 14th Invictus Games Foundation Conversation: From Policy to Practice at Chatham House in London. Also on Tuesday, July 7, it was announced that Harry and six other high-profile claimants had lost their legal case against Associated Newspapers Limited, which they accused of illegal information gathering. The court found they could not prove their claims.

On Wednesday, July 8, the Duke of Sussex continued his U.K. trip with a series of private meetings related to the Invictus Games Foundation at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a nursing facility for veterans of the British Army. Harry quietly slipped into the engagement, avoiding reporters and photographers gathered outside.

Meghan was slated to join her husband at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, but it was announced over the weekend that the Duchess of Sussex, 44, and the couple’s two children would not join Harry in London due to security concerns. It’s possible that the family could return to the U.K. for parts of the trip outside the capital city.

Via: People