Prince Harry’s emotions took center stage during a heartfelt moment that made headlines after he became visibly emotional while speaking at a public event.
The Duke of Sussex had to pause during his speech at the WellChild Awards, overwhelmed by his feelings. Though he’s no stranger to public appearances, this particular occasion struck a personal chord—especially when he began to speak about his son, Prince Archie.
This wasn’t the first time Harry was seen in tears. In his memoir Spare, he shares other instances where emotions got the better of him. But it was during the October 2019 WellChild Awards—before he and Meghan stepped away from royal duties—that he broke down in front of an audience.
The event, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, celebrated the courage of seriously ill children and their families. Harry, who has been a WellChild patron since 2007, opened up about the emotional significance the event held for him.
Breaking Down While Recalling a Private Moment
Speaking at the event, Harry reflected on their previous attendance in 2018, shortly after he and Meghan had found out they were expecting. At the time, it was a closely guarded secret.
“Last year when my wife and I attended, we knew we were expecting our first child and no one else did at the time, but we did. I remember—” Harry began, before suddenly pausing, overwhelmed by emotion.
Host Gabby Roslin quietly checked on him, offering support as he composed himself.
He continued: “Sorry. I remember squeezing Meghan’s hand so tight throughout the awards and both of us were wondering what it would be like to be parents one day. And more so, what it would be like to do everything we could to 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 never have understood until I had a child of my own.”
William’s Reaction and Concern
In Spare, Harry describes how this emotional moment led to concern from his older brother, Prince William. The event had taken place five months after Archie was born.
“I walked onstage, began my brief remarks, and caught sight of Meg’s face,” Harry wrote. “I thought back to a year ago, when she and I attended this event just weeks after taking that home pregnancy test. We’d been filled with hope, and worry, like all expectant parents, and now we had a healthy little boy at home. But these parents and children hadn’t been so lucky. Gratitude and sympathy converged in my heart, and I choked up.”
He recalled gripping the lectern tightly as he struggled to speak, and how a supportive gesture from the host and a round of applause helped him continue. Later that evening, he received a message from William, who was on an overseas tour in Pakistan. “He said I was clearly struggling, and he was worried about me,” Harry wrote.
A Brotherly Disagreement Turns Heated
What began as concern from William soon escalated into a tense back-and-forth between the brothers. According to Harry, William questioned his wellbeing and judgment, leading to a disagreement that stretched on for three days.
“Back and forth we went, all day, late into the night—we’d never had a fight like that over text before,” Harry revealed.
He described feeling emotionally distant from William, despite years of brotherhood. “Angry, but also miles apart, as if we were speaking different languages. Now and then I realised that my worst fear was coming true: after months of therapy, after working hard to become more aware, more independent, I was a stranger to my older brother. He could no longer relate to me—tolerate me.”
Still, the exchange ended on a softer note. “In his final texts, Willy wrote that he loved me. That he cared for me deeply. That he would do whatever is needed to help me. He told me to never feel any other way.”