Harry meets 'endlessly brave' children at awards

Seriously ill children and their families from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have been presented with awards after meeting Prince Harry.

The Duke of Sussex attended a celebration run by charity WellChild, which he has been a patron of for 16 years.

The organisation supports more than 100,000 young people with serious health needs across the UK.

The prince made a special appearance to meet award recipients, including Scarlett from Basingstoke, Jude from Portsmouth and Angela Turner from Shanklin.

The awards were held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Monday and Prince Harry gave a speech to those attending describing all the children as "little legends".

He thanked the children for "being you and uplifting all those around you," and praised parents.

"The level of round-the-clock care that you offer, the skills you’ve had to learn and the battles for support that you fight every single day - I am truly in awe," the prince said.

Scarlett attended the event after being nominated for the Inspirational Child award by mum Aby.

The 10-year-old has a brain malformation and extensive spinal syrinx, which causes her extreme pain and muscle weakness.

But this does not stop Scarlett using her time in hospital to encourage others, giving out bravery stickers to children on the ward.

She has also worked with local charities and MPs to promote a Be Kind campaign for victims of bullying and launched Scarlett's Smiles with Spotlight UK, to support children like her.

Her mum said: “Scarlett is my constant ray of sunshine and brings smiles to so many other children.

"She never asks for anything for herself and, despite her daily battles, she is endlessly brave, always surprising others with her kindness and generous nature.”

Portsmouth teenager Jude was nominated for an Inspirational Young Person award by his nurse Sarah Challeway.

Jude has chronic conditions where the nerves and muscles of his bowels do not function, meaning he has been in and out of hospital his whole life.

The 14-year-old has had several major operations, including two life-saving transplants, so he can consume food and fluid without support of medical devices.

Having nursed Jude since he was a small baby, Ms Challeway said she has witnessed his courage and determination.

She said: “Jude is the most accepting, loving, brave and determined little dude I have ever known in 30 years of nursing.

"He is just so inspirational and kind and deserves to know that everyone thinks this about him.”

Angela Turner's 11-year-old daughter Chelsea died due to complex medical conditions, including cerebral palse and epilepsy, in July 2023.

Throughout Chelsea's life, her mother campaigned to improve care for children with chronic health problems.

Ms Turner's sister, Lisa Whitaker, nominated her for the Parent Carer award because of this "tireless" work, which included spearheading a campaign to have hoist and washing facilities on the children's ward at St Mary's Hospital children's on the Isle of Wight.

Talking about her sister, Ms Whitaker said: "She really deserves this recognition for everything she has done through her love of Chelsea, which has made such a difference to her and to so many children on the island.”

You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.