Prince Harry gives award to 'absolute warrior'

Prince Harry presented Esmée McGlinchey with her award on Monday

A young girl who has endured 35 major surgeries met Prince Harry as she was named a winner at the 2025 WellChild Awards.

Esmée McGlinchey, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, was nominated by her mum, Toni McGlinchey, who described her daughter as an "absolute warrior of a little girl".

The six-year-old received her award at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Monday.

In a speech at the event, Prince Harry, a patron for the charity, praised WellChild nurses for "making an enormous difference" .

He added: "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."

'Forced to fight for her place'

Esmée was born at 28 weeks and spent her early months in intensive care, requiring surgery on her brain, lungs, and bowel.

She now lives with multiple complex conditions. She is non-verbal and non-mobile, which means she needs round-the-clock care and attends a special needs school with one-to-one support.

Discussing her daughter, Ms McGlinchey said: "In the very short six years she's been on this planet she's been forced to fight for her place in this world and my word has she done just that.

"This award will give Esmée, and us as her family, a sense of pride for the immense strength she has demonstrated over the years and everything she has overcome."

WellChild chief executive Matt James added: "Young people like Esmée embody what the WellChild Awards are all about - strength, compassion and the will to help others thrive in the face of adversity."

Correction: an earlier version of this story inadvertently used the wrong image.