Prince Harry presents Stoke-on-Trent woman with WellChild Award

A younger woman who has endured 35 main surgical procedures met Prince Harry as she was named a winner on the 2025 WellChild Awards.

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

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

In a speech on the occasion, 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 inside about three minutes I realised two issues. The love and power within 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.”

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

She now lives with a number of advanced situations. She is non-verbal and non-mobile, which implies she wants round the clock care and attends a particular wants faculty with one-to-one assist.

Discussing her daughter, Ms Hynes mentioned: “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 household, a way of delight for the immense energy she has demonstrated through the years and all the things she has overcome.”

WellChild chief executive Matt James added: “Young folks like Esmée embody what the WellChild Awards are all about – energy, compassion and the desire to assist others thrive within the face of adversity.”

Correction: an earlier model of this story inadvertently used the flawed picture.