Harry upstaged by boisterous Noah at WellChild awards

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Louise Thomas

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The Duke of Sussex has been upstaged by a boisterous boy who threw his toys away during an awards night and laughed as Harry picked them up.

The duke met seven-year-old Noah Nicholson – who has complex medical conditions – when he returned to the UK to honour children, teenagers and their parents who have been recognised with awards from the charity WellChild.

Harry was asked by some of the youngsters whether he had a passport, and received gifts for his own children in the US.

He told one winner at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel: “My award is being here with you guys.”

The WellChild awards celebrate the inspiring qualities of some of the country’s seriously ill young people and the dedication of those who keep them healthy and happy, including health, social care and education professionals.

Noah has cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease and other serious health issues, but his mother, Tracey Nicholson, 42, from Grimsby, said he remains happy and positive and lives life to the full.

The seven-year-old brought his prized comfort toys – George the cat and Ratty the Giraffe in the shape of a blanket – and delighted in throwing them on to the floor.

When Ms Nicholson apologised for her son’s antics, Harry, who is WellChild’s patron, replied: “Don’t apologise, I love it.”

Harry recognised Ratty the Giraffe and called the blanket comforter “lovey”, a name used in American, and said: “Every parent has about six spare.”

At one point Noah, who has brain damage and won the most Inspirational Child aged four to six, grabbed Harry’s beard and made him grin.

Noah’s mother said afterwards: “He’s in constant pain but is always happy and smiley. He’s just a very excitable boy and when he’s around people he just loves it.

“Nothing ever gets him down, he never cries unless the pain gets the better of him. He’s seriously ill fighting for his life so much, but he’s so happy.”

Anya Olweny, 12, named as Inspirational Sibling, asked Harry if he had a passport: “He said he still has to have one.”

The youngster, from Matlock, Derbyshire, was not fazed by meeting royalty and was recognised for supporting her mother caring for her 15-year-old brother Edward, who was born with a chromosomal disorder, is developmentally delayed and severely short-sighted.

Scarlett Cripps, Inspirational Child 7-11 years old, presented Harry with a set of crystal hearts – blue for the duke, green for his son Archie, yellow for his daughter Lilibet and purple for his wife Meghan.

Scarlett’s mother, Aby Cripps, said: “Scarlett told Harry she filled the crystal hearts with love and whenever he had a bad day or sad day he had to squeeze the heart and it would show him how special he was and make him smile.

“He said it was a lovely gesture and he hadn’t seen his wife and his children because he was travelling here, so he’ll take it out later and squeeze them and it will remind him of his lovely wife.”

It is believed Harry arrived in the UK on Sunday, but it seems unlikely he will meet his estranged brother the Prince of Wales, and doubtful he will travel to Scotland to spend time with the King.