For a few seconds, the WellChild Awards stage became less about the cameras, the famous guests and the awards, and more about one little girl who simply wanted a hug.Prince Harry shared a particularly sweet moment with six-year-old Margot Jones-Billington at Monday night’s awards in London. The young award winner appeared on stage in a pink dress and sparkly shoes, and her excitement around Harry quickly became one of the most talked-about moments from the evening.Footage from the ceremony shows Margot approaching Harry before wrapping her arms around him. The hug became an especially tender moment as the little girl appeared reluctant to let go.And Harry didn’t rush her.He stayed with her, smiling and embracing the young winner, turning what could have been a quick awards-show interaction into a genuinely touching moment.The internet, naturally, had plenty to say.One social media user described the clip as something that had “brought tears to my eyes”, while another praised Harry as a “true embodiment of Diana” for the way he connected with the child.That comparison quickly brought memories of Princess Diana’s own interactions with children back into the conversation. Diana was well known for breaking away from the formality surrounding royal engagements and making physical contact with people she met. During a 1989 visit to Harlem Hospital in New York, she famously picked up and hugged a seven-year-old boy with AIDS, spending several minutes comforting him.She also spent time holding babies, speaking with mothers and interacting closely with young patients during that visit.So, for some viewers, seeing Harry respond so naturally to Margot’s affection felt like a familiar image.
The little girl behind the viral moment
Margot was honoured with an award for Inspirational Child, aged 4-6.According to WellChild, she survived a brain bleed and stroke when she was just 20 months old and now lives with multiple complex medical conditions. Despite the challenges she has faced, the charity describes her as a vibrant six-year-old with a love for music, musicals and performing for her family.Harry presented her with the award during the ceremony at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on September 21.Before the ceremony, the Duke of Sussex also spent time meeting the winners and their families, listening to their stories and getting to know the children being recognised that evening. WellChild says he met each of the winners and their families during a pre-ceremony reception.
Harry notices her sparkly shoes
The sweet interaction had already begun before the hug.Margot was wearing a pink dress and sparkly shoes, and Harry noticed the glittering footwear. He asked if he could touch her shoe and reacted with a delighted “wow!”He then found a connection with his own children, telling Margot that his daughter, Princess Lilibet, also loves pink and sparkles.“I have a boy and a girl who are seven and five. My little girl loves sparkles and she loves pink. That’s her favourite colour,” Harry told her.Margot also gave Harry a belated birthday card, while her younger sister Adelaide later shared a hug with him on stage.
Harry’s long association with the charity
Harry has been patron of WellChild for 18 years and attended the 2026 awards for the 16th time. The charity supports seriously ill children and young people with complex medical needs, helping families care for them at home wherever possible.The evening brought together children, their families, carers and healthcare professionals to celebrate the people behind some extraordinary stories of resilience.Harry’s connection with children’s causes has also previously been linked to his mother’s legacy. During a 2019 visit to Sheffield Children’s Hospital, he visited the same hospital where Diana had appeared three decades earlier and spent time with young patients and their families.But it was his interaction with Margot that stole the show this time.A little girl in a sparkly outfit ran towards him, wrapped her arms around him and didn’t seem ready to let go.And watching Harry simply hug her back, many online viewers saw something familiar in the moment: the warmth, ease and affection that had long been associated with Diana’s way of connecting with children.For them, it was more than just a sweet royal moment. It was a glimpse of Diana’s legacy living on through her son.Video courtesy: Hello Mag/Instagram