4 Moments From Prince Harry’s WellChild Awards That Show What the Monarchy Is Missing

Prince Harry's charm and candor at the WellChild Awards won hearts on Monday, September 21. He got emotional during his speech and joked around with the young winners, finding easy ways to connect with the children he met before the ceremony. More than anything, the evening showed how naturally Harry seems to bring warmth and a personal touch, qualities that may be harder for the monarchy to replace.

Harry getting emotional at the WellChild Awards was not exactly a surprise. He has never been afraid to show his softer side, and this year’s keynote speech saw him get visibly emotional. The parents were very much at the heart of his speech, “To all the mums and dads - most of us will never truly know the emotional ups and downs of your day. But I sincerely hope that you take strength from nights like this.” As per The Independent, host Gaby Roslin tried to comfort him, but Harry joked that her kindness was “making it worse” as he struggled to hold back more tears. That willingness to let his emotions show is part of what makes Harry feel so genuine and perhaps one of the qualities the monarchy is missing.

Harry’s interaction with the young winners went beyond a quick hello and a few photographs, as is typical of most royal engagements. Before the ceremony, he spent more than an hour meeting the children and their families, sitting down and listening to their stories. And he clearly was not just making polite conversation; he actually took time to relate with the young winners and seemed genuinely interested in what they had to say. The Duke bonded with Sofia Jobson over their love for Metallica and showed him her book from the time she met the rock band. Then there was George Tappenden, who gave Harry a quick lesson in his wheelchair skills by pulling off a wheelie right in front of him.

Harry bonded with six-year-old Margot Jones-Billington. He noticed her pink dress and sparkly shoes and quickly brought up his own children. “You obviously love sparkles. I have a boy and a girl who are seven and five. My little girl loves sparkles and she loves pink. That’s her favorite color,” he told Margot, as reported by PEOPLE. It was such a small detail, but it made the conversation feel much more personal. Instead of sticking to the usual formal questions, Harry related to the youngster and made her feel at ease.

Will Messer had a Prince Harry Funko Pop ready for him at the WellChild Awards, and Harry found the whole thing hilarious. Rather than simply signing it, he poked fun at the tiny version of himself and even copied its expression for a laugh. According to PEOPLE, Messer’s father revealed, “Harry said it wasn’t much of a likeness and said he looked like Stewie from the Family Guy cartoon series.” It was the kind of silly, unplanned moment that showed Harry was more than happy to engage in some self-deprecating humor.