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Prince Harry shocks crowd with teary breakdown during speech

A photo of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex tears up on stage alongside television presenter Gaby Roslin as he delivers a speech during the annual WellChild Awards in London on October 15, 2019.
Harry has shown his vulnerable side on stage. Photo: Getty Images.

He’s typically cool, calm and composed, but on Tuesday night Prince Harry left his audience stunned after he visibly broke down while delivering a heartfelt speech.

The Duke of Sussex was so overcome with emotion mid-way through addressing the crowd at the WellChild awards in London that he was forced to stop speaking altogether.

With tears in his eyes, the 35-year-old choked up while recounting a very special moment in his life, prompting his co-host at the event to come to his aid.

Harry’s teary breakdown

The royal, who is WellChild’s charity patron, had taken to the stage to present the ‘Most Inspirational Child’ award and deliver a short speech which was live-streamed on Facebook.

The dad-to-one became overwhelmed when he opened up about how this year’s awards ‘resonate in a different way’ because he’s now a father.

“Last year when my wife and I attended we knew we were expecting our first child - no one else did at the time, but we did,” he said.

At this point, the prince’s voice cracks and he is physically overcome, clutching the podium and dropping his head forward.

Sensing his distress, Harry’s co-host, English television presenter and actress Gaby Roslin, steps forward to place a comforting hand on his arm.

After a few moments, the duke recovers himself somewhat and straightens up, apologising to the audience with a ‘sorry’ before continuing his speech.

A photo of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex tears up on stage alongside television presenter Gaby Roslin as he delivers a speech during the annual WellChild Awards in London on October 15, 2019.
Harry's co-host comes to his aid. Photo: WellChild Awards.
A photo of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex tears up on stage alongside television presenter Gaby Roslin as he delivers a speech during the annual WellChild Awards in London on October 15, 2019.
Harry attempts to hold back tears. Photo: Getty Images.

“And I remember squeezing Meghan’s hand so tight during the awards, both of us thinking what it would be like to be parents one day, and more so, what it would be like to do everything we could to protect and help our child should they be born with immediate challenges or become unwell over time,” he went on.

“And now talking to all of you as a parent pulls at my heartstrings, in a way I never could have understood, until I had a child of my own. No parent wants to hear that their child will suffer, that they will face extraordinary challenges - that will affect them throughout their lives,” he added.

“After meeting all the WellChild kids and parents over the years you have managed to give us a sense of optimism, of hope and of strength that no professional, no best selling book or advice could ever give us - so thank you for being you,” he concluded.

A photo of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex tears up on stage alongside television presenter Gaby Roslin as he delivers a speech during the annual WellChild Awards in London on October 15, 2019.
Gaby Roslin comforts the distraught prince. Photo: WellChild Awards.
A photo of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex at the WellChild Awards at Royal Lancaster Hotel on September 4, 2018 in London, England.
Harry and Meghan, who was pregnant at the time, arrive at the WellChild Awards in 2018. Photo: Getty Images.

The duke and duchess formally announced their first pregnancy on October 15, 2018, while in Sydney on their royal tour down under. They welcomed a baby boy, Archie, on May 6 this year.

According to the WellChild Awards’ official website, the event “celebrates the inspirational qualities of the UK’s seriously ill children and young people, along with those who go that extra mile to make a difference to their lives”.

Harry and Meghan chose WellChild as one of the four charities that would benefit from the public’s donations following Archie’s birth.

A photo of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (3R), and Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (back row C) pose for a group photograph with award winners and presenters during the annual WellChild Awards in London on October 15, 2019.
Harry and Meghan pose for a group photograph with award winners and presenters during the annual WellChild Awards in London on October 15, 2019. Photo: Getty Images.
A photo of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex posing for a photograph with award winner William Magee during the WellChild Awards at Royal Lancaster Hotel on October 15, 2019 in London, England.
Harry and Meghan with award winner William Magee. Photo: Getty Images.

Hidden message in Meghan’s outfit

After his teary speech, Harry was joined on stage by wife Meghan for photographs, with the duchess wearing an outfit with a few hidden messages.

The royal threw back to another milestone in her life with Harry by sporting the same bottle green P.A.R.O.S.H dress she wore to during the 2017 TV interview in which the pair announced their engagement.

She topped her dress with another wardrobe favourite from 2017, a camel coat by Sentaler which she rugged up in for her first Christmas church service at Sandringham.

Meghan finished off her look with a tortoiseshell bag and light brown Manolo Blahnik heels.

A photo of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arriving at the annual WellChild Awards in London on October 15, 2019.
Meghan's outfit held a few hidden messages - can you spot them? Photo: Getty Images.
A photo of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the annual WellChild Awards in London on October 15, 2019.
Earlier at the WellChild Awards, Harry and Meghan chatted with young award winners and their families. Photo: Getty Images.
A photo of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex receiving a gift for their son Archie from William Magee and mother Kelly during the annual WellChild Awards in London on October 15, 2019.
New parents Harry and Meghan are gifted a tiny romper for baby Archie. Photo: Getty Images.

Archie’s big milestone

At a pre-ceremony reception earlier in the evening, the royal couple met and chatted with the young award winners and their families, one of whom gifted the new parents with a romper for five-month-old Archie.

During these informal chat, proud mum Meghan revealed her son had recently achieved a big milestone.

“I just took Archie for his first [playgroup] class. It was a lot of fun. He loved it,” Meghan reportedly told one girl and her mother.

The bub’s playgroup is said to have taken place in Windsor, near the Sussexes’ home Frogmore Cottage, on Tuesday.

A photo of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor at a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation during their royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Meghan revealed a big milestone for baby Archie at the event. Photo: Getty Images.

‘Embarrassing’ social media gaffe

Earlier this week, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle set tongues wagging yet again over a recent social media post.

On Monday, the couple posted a famous quote to their Instagram account, @sussexroyal, as they’ve been doing for several months now.

This most recent quote was by late American poet, singer and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, and was an inspiring call-to-arms for women to support one another which echoes the duchess’ own beliefs.

“Each time a women [sic] stands up for herself without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women,” read Maya’s quote.

A photo of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the British High Commissioner's residence to attend an afternoon reception to celebrate the UK and South Africa’s important business and investment relationship, looking ahead to the Africa Investment Summit the UK will host in 2020. This is part of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's royal tour to South Africa. on October 02, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made a slip-up on social media. Photo: Getty Image.

A royal proofreader

Despite the quote’s powerful message, the royal’s some 9.6 million followers have taken issue with the post - and it’s all over a typo.

Eagle-eyed fans zeroed in on a spelling error in the first few words as the word ‘women’ should, in fact, be spelt ‘woman’ as many, many people pointed out in the comments section.

“Proofreading only takes a second but it’s always worth it,” wrote one.

“Who do I talk to about the ‘e’?” asked another.

“Each time a WOMAN stands up. Who writes these? #proofread,” chastised another.

Harry and Meghan make another basic gaffe in social media post. Photo: Instagram/sussexroyal.
Harry and Meghan make another basic gaffe in social media post. Photo: Instagram/sussexroyal.

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