Prince Harry makes cryptic quip about 'challenging siblings' as he and William stay apart

Prince Harry made a cryptic comment about 'challenging' sibling rivalry - just hours after he and estranged brother Prince William separately honoured the late Queen.

The Duke of Sussex jetted into the UK this morning for a week of solo engagements in his homeland, which included an appearance at the WellChild Awards tonight.

Earlier he had been at St George's Chapel in Windsor, where he laid a wreath of flowers and privately paid his respects to his late grandmother on the third anniversary of her death. At the same time, just a 15-minute drive away in Sunningdale, the Prince and Princess of Wales remembered the former monarch by visiting the Women’s Institute (WI), in tribute to the late Queen’s decades-long association with the organisation.

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Tonight, he attended the WellChild Awards and joked and laughed with seriously ill youngsters ahead of a glittering awards ceremony recognising their efforts to succeed and thrive despite life-threatening conditions.

When he chatted to Declan Bitmead, 17 – winner of the inspirational young person 15-18 years award, he quizzed him about family life, asking if he had siblings and the teenager replied he had a younger brother.

“Does he drive you mad?” asked the duke, and Declan replied “no, we get on fine” – and Harry quipped with a smile “you know what – siblings”.

When told the 17-year-old, from Oxted in Surrey, and his brother went to the same school, the duke said “you’re at the same school, that sometimes makes it more challenging”.

Declan suffered permanent sight impairment and lost 96 per cent of his skin after developing a rare and life-threatening reaction to a common tonsillitis treatment.

Harry joked with the teenager and made him smile, after being told by the schoolboy he did not have much sight, by saying he was lucky not to see him as: “I’m bald and ginger and worst of all I’ve got a ginger beard – you’re thinking phew.”

Harry also enjoyed a balloon sword fight with nine-year-old Gwen Foster after the Inspirational Child aged 7-11 winner, born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, challenged him to a duel with the toys made by a balloon sculptor.

The little girl, from Horley, presented him with tiny football shirts of her favourite teams for his children, Wigan Athletic for Lillibet, aged four, and six-year-old Archie was gifted a Brighton and Hove Albion top.

Harry also spoke with six-year-old Esmee, who will receive an award during the ceremony, as she inspected the Duke's polka dot tie. Esmee wore a pair of frilly socks, to which Harry commented: "My daughter would love these socks." Her mum Toni Hynes, told the Duke: "Esmée's very very excited about it, she woke up at 5.30am saying 'party, party, party!'"

When he chatted to Grace Tutt, 13, from Sevenoaks – who is wheelchair-bound after a bus crash, the Special Recognition winner turned the tables after his flurry of questions and asked the duke for Netflix recommendations.

Harry said he and wife Meghan, who live in California after stepping down as working royals, watch political thriller Hostage together and he also enjoys the reality TV show Love Is Blind.

In an interview with a past WellChild winner who is hoping to break into television, Harry marked the 20th anniversary of the awards by saying: “I have always said for many years that I still have a child inside of me, and I think all of us do, and being amongst these kids brings that out of me.

“I think out of all of the qualities that these kids have, without question, their resilience – top still.” He aslo told those at the awards ceremony in a speech: "For two decades, this event has shone a bright spotlight on the needs of children and young people living with complex medical conditions.

"But more than that, it has celebrated something far bigger - your courage, your resilience, and the extraordinary love of the families and carers who never stop showing up.

“I still remember my very first WellChild Awards, 18 years ago. I walked into the room, and within about three minutes I realised two things: the love and energy in the room was palpable, so too was the unpredictability!

"And second, that I was completely hooked on it all. 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.

“Since those early days, 311 WellChild Award winners have inspired us with their bravery. Today, a 53-strong team of WellChild Nurses are out there making an enormous difference. Add to that a community of more than 3,600 families, plus support programmes reaching even further, and you see the real impact of what has been built here.

“More than ever, WellChild’s mission must be our shared priority. Tonight, I’d ask each of you to think about how you can play your part, whether through support, awareness, or action, to help advance this crucial work.”

Earlier, as Harry arrived at the event, he shot waiting photographers a smile as he arrived at the WellChild Awards at 4pm. He was seen hastily getting out of the back seat of a black Range Rover at a central London Hotel just hours after touching down in the UK.

He was pictured quickly opening the door of the car himself, correcting his tie as he strode into the event, as he quickly shot a quick smile at press before greeting attendees at the charity event.

Other notable figures joined Harry at the children's charity event including Rolling Stone, Ronnie Wood, who graced the event in a very suave maroon suit.

Ronnie, 78, was accompanied to the event and his partner Sally Humphreys Wood, 47, who lit up the room adorned in a stunning bright yellow floral dress. Also attending was Peter Andre and wife Emily as well as Girls Aloud star Kimberly Walsh.

Harry trip to the UK comes as relations between him and William remain strained, with the Prince of Wales rejecting any reconciliation with Harry, in their years-long feud. However, hopes remain that during his trip to the UK this week, Harry could meet up with his father, the King.

Charles marked the third anniversary of his accession privately at Balmoral yesterday, but is believed to be in London later this week at the same time as his son.

Sources have said there is a determination on both sides to make a meeting happen, with Wednesday being touted as a potential date.

Harry, who previously admitted he wanted reconciliation with his family, is said to be ready to 'drop everything' to attend a meeting. A source said: "As Harry has stated before, he'd love to see his family and be reconciled."

However, both Buckingham Palace and spokespeople for Harry have refused to be drawn on when or whether a meeting will take place.

Father and son last met face to face almost 20 months ago when the duke made a transatlantic dash to see the monarch in February 2024 after hearing of his cancer diagnosis, but they spent just over 30 minutes together before the King left to recuperate in Sandringham.