Prince Harry meets with ill children during poignant engagement on his UK return

Ahead of the ceremony, Prince Harry, 40, was reunited with Noah Nicholson, six, and his mother Tracy, five years after their first meeting at Sheffield Children's Hospital.

The youngster was in lively form, grabbing Harry by the beard and throwing soft toys at him.

Admiring a photograph from their first meeting in 2019, Harry spotted that Noah was carrying "Raffy", the same giraffe toy attached to a soft blanket.

"Is this the same one? No way!” he said. "Every parent has a spare. I've got at least six spare."

He added: "My daughter Lili has these Lovies."

As Noah continued to throw “Raffy” and a white cat toy called George in the duke's direction, he joked: "You are so naughty!"

As they continued to lark around, he told Tracy, “Good luck!”

Tracy said: "I'm so proud of Noah. Beyond proud. It means so much. He lives in constant pain, all day, every day.

"But after everything he's been through, he lights up every room he goes into."

Harry is due to present Noah with the award for Inspirational Child, four to six years old and told him: "I'll see you on stage!"

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Born prematurely at 27 weeks, weighing just two pounds, Noah has had 28 surgeries, including 14 life-saving procedures.

He has cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease, short bowel disease and other serious health issues that require constant medical care and cause him pain.

Noah is being recognised for "his courage, resilience and unwavering spirit," which has seen him fundraise to support the charities and hospitals that help him and donate gifts for other children in hospital.

The annual WellChild Awards celebrate the inspirational qualities of the UK's seriously ill children and the professionals who help care for them.