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Prince Harry Makes Rare Mention of Parenting Archie and Lilibet in Rousing U.K. Speech

Parents will relate

Prince Harry at WellChild Awards
Chris Jackson/Getty Images

If you're navigating the messy world of parenting, then you can rest assured that Prince Harry knows exactly what it feels like.

On Monday, the Duke of Sussex, 40, traveled across the pond to attend the WellChild Awards at the Royal Lancaster in London. He delivered a rousing speech to celebrate the achievements of sick children and their caregivers—but not without getting candid about own experience as a father.

He began, "The WellChild Awards is an event that never fails to inspire me. The stories of young people who battle against the odds, living lives filled with medical procedures, hospital stays and endless appointments, remind us all of the strength of the human spirit."

After thanking professionals, parents and loved ones for working "selflessly to ensure these young people have the best lives possible," he briefly referenced his two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.

He said, "As a parent, I know a little about the emotional rollercoaster of parenting. But when I hear about the care many of you mums, dads, and family members provide, the level of round-the-clock care you offer, the skills you've had to learn and the battles for support that you fight every single day, I am truly in awe."

Aside from delivering his speech, the duke, who also serves as patron of the charity, presented the Award for Inspirational Child in the age 4-6 category. He met the winners and their families—and even took a page from Kate Middleton's parenting handbook while chatting with the children.

In case you missed it, Prince Harry bent down to meet the children at eye level. The popular parenting gesture creates a safe and comfortable space for young kids to open up because the adult is speaking on the same plane and with plenty of eye contact, as opposed to looking down at them.

Prince Harry has been a patron at WellChild for 16 years and attended the annual ceremony 12 times. In fact, just last year, he went on a solo trip to the U.K. to attend the event, and there were several clips of him talking and laughing with the children.

Sounds to me like Prince Harry's fatherly instincts are spot on.

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