Prince Harry shared a series of warm and candid reflections about his family’s return to British life during Monday evening’s WellChild Awards ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
The Duke of Sussex, 42, who moved back from California with Meghan and their two children in August about how Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, have been adapting to their new surroundings.
His remarks ranged from humorous anecdotes about breakfast habits to more emotional observations about parenthood, offering a rare and personal glimpse into the Sussex household since the family’s transatlantic move.
The children have since started school in the UK, and the couple have been focused on establishing their new routine, with Harry undertaking a number of charitable engagements while Meghan has concentrated on helping the children settle in.
Prince Harry shared a series of warm and candid reflections about his family’s return to British life during Monday evening’s WellChild Awards ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
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When asked about the most British thing he had done with his family since their return, Harry’s first answer was characteristically playful. “Gone for a walk. Lots of walks. Isn’t that the most British thing?” he joked.
However, the Duke quickly revealed that the family’s immersion in British culture had extended well beyond the countryside and into their morning routine.
“OK yes Marmite on crumpets – please tell me that is a British thing because it has always been in my life and now the kids are eating Marmite on crumpets which is a big moment for me,” he said.
The Duke of Sussex also expressed his enthusiasm for being able to dedicate more time to the causes he cares about now that the family is based in the UK.
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“They used to dis me for having Marmite in the house but now we are in the UK that is kind of water under the bridge,” Harry added.
The Marmite triumph stands in contrast to an earlier attempt to win the children over with another British classic. “I already tried beans on toast,” Harry revealed, noting that the experiment took place years ago while the family were still living in California and “didn’t go down very well at all.”
On a more relatable note, the Duke disclosed that breakfast on Monday morning had been something of a struggle, with both children experiencing a case of the “Monday blues” ahead of school.
Harry drew a parallel with his own childhood, likening their reluctance to the “Sunday night blues” he used to feel before being sent off to boarding school.
The Duke managed to lift their spirits, though, by telling them about his plans for the evening’s ceremony. “They were genuinely fascinated and interested and had all sorts of questions,” he said.
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The Duke managed to lift their spirits, though, by telling them about his plans for the evening’s ceremony. “They were genuinely fascinated and interested and had all sorts of questions,” he said.
The awards ceremony, which honours seriously ill children and the people who care for them, appeared to stir deep emotions in the Duke. “Once you become a parent it does change everything,” he reflected.
Harry acknowledged that meeting young award recipients had always been meaningful to him, but said fatherhood had brought a new dimension to the experience. “You suddenly realise how grateful you are to have kids that are not sick,” he told HELLO!.
He and Meghan are keen to use their charitable work as a way of broadening their children’s understanding of other people’s lives. That impulse was evident on Monday morning, when Harry defused the breakfast table grumbles by describing what lay ahead at the Royal Lancaster Hotel that evening. “You know what you are just being a little bit tricky so I am going to tell you what I am doing tonight,” he recounted.
The Duke expressed his enthusiasm for being able to dedicate more time to the causes he cares about now that the family is based in Britain. Being “no longer 5,000 miles away should make it easier to be more available to support the charities that need us and that we really enjoy working with,” he said.
His bond with WellChild stretches back 18 years, and the charity confirmed that Monday’s event marked his 16th attendance at the annual awards.
During the ceremony, Harry presented the Inspirational Child award to six-year-old Margot Jones-Billington and delivered a speech celebrating the courage of young people living with complex medical conditions and the families who support them.
With the Sussexes now firmly settled back on British soil, the Duke’s remarks suggest a renewed commitment to hands-on involvement with the organisations closest to his heart.