Prince Harry returns to the UK alone for the WellChild Awards

After his whirlwind visit to NYC, Prince Harry is back in the UK for one of his favorite occasions

On Monday, September 30, the 40-year-old Duke of Sussex attended the annual WellChild Awards alone in London, celebrating the incredible courage and achievements of seriously ill children. The British charity is one of the few causes Harry has pursued since he stepped down from his role as a full member of the royal family in January 2020.

As Patron of WellChild, a role he has held for 16 years, Harry will meet the inspirational winners and their families at a pre-ceremony reception before attending the main event. He will be accompanied at the star-studded awards ceremony by singer Sir Rod Stewart, his wife Penny Lancaster and TV presenter Kate Garroway.

The WellChild Awards highlight the resilience of children facing serious health challenges and the commitment of those who care for them, from parents to nurses. Harry will present the Most Inspirational Child (ages 4 to 6) award and give a speech at the ceremony.

“With the awards, we seek to shine a light on a group of truly inspiring young people and caregivers who often go unseen and unrecognized,” WellChild CEO Matt James tells PEOPLE. “Having WellChild patron Prince Harry with us means we can not only give them a night they will never forget, but also provide a powerful platform to tell their stories and show the world how it is is caring for a child with complex medical needs.”

He adds: “It allows us to create a magical experience for our winners, but also gives us a platform to tell their important stories.”

Harry, who celebrated his 40th birthday on September 15, is traveling alone as his wife Meghan Markle is at home in Montecito, California, with the couple’s two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.

The event is always deeply emotional as Prince Harry spends time connecting with the brave children, their families and the dedicated carers who support them. In a heartfelt statement, Harry expressed his deep gratitude and said he was “honored” to once again recognize “the remarkable courage and achievements of children with complex medical needs.”

“These incredible young people inspire us all, along with the dedicated carers, nurses and professionals who support them tirelessly. It is a true privilege to recognize such extraordinary individuals,” he added.

Harry has made the WellChild Awards a regular commitment, attending 12 ceremonies and often spending meaningful time with the children and their families. The Duchess of Sussex memorably accompanied him at the 2018 and 2019 awards ceremonies.

“When Prince Harry meets our families, it is a very special moment for them,” says James. “Sometimes they can be a little nervous, as you can imagine, but one of his great qualities is his ability to immediately calm our families and the children. Seeing her smiling and laughing with him is always a highlight of the evening.” .”

Prince Harry’s journey across the Atlantic to attend the WellChild Awards is a testament to what the event means to him and James says: “We are very fortunate to have his continued involvement and we are very privileged to have him as to have our patron. He was very helpful.” He also supports WellChild in general. Over the years, Prince Harry has visited many of our WellChild nurses and attended our Helping Hands garden makeover project, so he was able to see first-hand the impact we can have outside the glitz and glamor of the WellChild Awards. There is really important work being done, and he’s a big supporter of it.

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This visit comes just days after Harry’s solo visit to NYC, where he supported several of his charities and organizations, including the Diana Award, HALO Trust, African Parks and Travalyst. It also marks Harry’s return to Britain after his final trip in August for the funeral of his uncle Lord Robert Fellowes. At the time, it was reported that he was not in contact with his brother, Prince William. He previously made a brief visit in June to testify in court during his legal battle with Mirror Group Newspapers.

Harry is expected to travel to Lesotho and South Africa in early October for his charity Sentebale, which he founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006.

The Duke of Sussex has no plans to see William or his father, King Charles, during his time in Britain, PEOPLE understands. Harry’s relationship with his father Charles, who is currently in Scotland alongside Queen Camilla, remains strained amid Harry’s ongoing battle for safety.

Sources previously told PEOPLE that calls and letters to his father went unanswered. Harry’s attempts to contact his brother Prince William – through texts, calls and messages – are also ignored.

WellChild estimates that there are over 100,000 children with complex medical needs in the UK. The annual awards aim to shine a spotlight on their incredible courage and the unwavering commitment of the carers who support them.

As for Prince Harry: “His goal for tonight is really to make sure that we give these families the celebration and recognition that they deserve and provide a platform where we can tell their very important stories,” says James. “Those are the goals for him and us.”