Prince Harry seemed to effortlessly slip back into his royal demeanour during a touching event in the UK yesterday evening, body language experts have observed.
The Duke of Sussex honoured children and teenagers at the WellChild Awards on September 30, celebrating young individuals who serve as carers, engage in fundraising, or bravely face life with challenging health conditions.
Despite the ongoing tension between him and Prince William, and the distance from his California home, it’s unlikely that Harry took the opportunity to see either his brother or his father, King Charles, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, the Mirror reports.
Harry was all smiles and appeared quite at ease throughout the awards evening, even when he was hilariously upstaged by seven year-old Noah Nicholson, who scattered his toys for Harry to pick up.
Commenting on his entrance, Judi James, a body language expert, told the Mirror: “With a large ‘Oh’ of happy recognition and anticipation, Harry looks relaxed and delighted on this UK visit, arriving using the kind of pace and intentional gestures to suggest keenness and authentic pleasure.
“He strides into the room, smoothing his tie once with his hand in contrast with the constant and very anxious-looking tie-smoothing and yanking he was seen performing in New York last week. The royal role seems to suit him here and he leans into some very animated handshakes, looking eager to engage his hosts in friendly conversation.
“Posing in a line he adopts a royal body language look with his hands clasped in front of his torso, and the way he sustains and even re-boots an eye and mouth smile while being photographed shows he is keen to show his happiness here to the world.”
She added: “His chats with the children shows Harry perhaps at his best, fully immersed in the conversations with the children, leaning forward onto his legs to get to their height and show very active listening skills that will make them feel totally relaxed and important.”
As WellChild’s patron for more than 15 years, Harry has regularly attended the awards ceremony staged by the organisation, the national charity for seriously ill children and their families. After meeting the award winners and presenting them with their prizes, Harry later gave a speech where he hailed those honoured as “little legends” and talked about the rollercoaster of parenting.
He remarked: “The WellChild Awards is an event that never fails to inspire me. The stories of young people who battle against the odds, living lives filled with medical procedures, hospital stays, and endless appointments, remind us all of the strength of the human spirit.
“For many of us, it is a daily life we can hardly imagine, and yet somehow, the young people I meet are always smiling and every room they walk into seemingly lights up with warmth and positivity. So keep being you. You’ve got this. And we’ve got you.
“As a parent, I know a little about the emotional rollercoaster of parenting! But, when I hear about the care many of you mums, dads, and family members provide; the level of round-the-clock care 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.
“You are all incredible, and your love and dedication are nothing short of heroic. And so it rests with me to remind you, that tonight is your night too. So much is asked of you so please take this moment to pause and be proud. To reflect and to be kind to yourselves.”
The buzz around Harry’s trip back to Britain has sparked whispers about a potential meeting between him and his older brother, the Prince of Wales, sparking curiosity over a possible reconciliation. Questions also hang in the air if he will make the journey to Scotland to see his father, the King.
It’s understood that Charles is taking some time at Balmoral and hasn’t seen Harry since his youngest son hurried home to be with him following his cancer diagnosis in February.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our newsletter here.