‘It was the first time I've seen him smile’: Prince Harry tells of joy at seeing his nephew grin as he attends awards ceremony for disabled children

Doting uncle Prince Harry revealed tonight that he had just seen baby Prince George smile for the first time.
Speaking at the WellChild Awards, where he paid tribute to brave children battling serious illness, the royal’s face lit up when he spoke about his seven-week old nephew.
He told one nominee, Nikki Christou, nine, from Enfield, North London, that he had just seen young George at Kensington Palace after travelling back from Norfolk with Prince William where they had attended the burial of their close family friend Hugh van Cutsem this afternoon.

Smiles all round: Prince Harry told Nikki Christou had just seen Prince George smile for the first time

Prince Harry meets Lauren Grace Rogers, 17, at the WellChild Awards for disabled children

Cheese: Here, Wills and Kate present their baby George to the world for the very first time. Doting uncle Harry revealed just tonight that he'd just seen the future king grin for the very first time

He beamed when Nikki told him that she shared the royal baby's July 22 birthday, her dad was called George, and her brother Alexander - one of the baby's middle names.

'Wow, very, very weird," Harry said. 'I've just literally seen him. Normally when I see him he's either sleeping or crying but I've just seen him smile. It was the first time I've seen him smile.'

Nikki, who has an incurable malformation in her face that has affected her nose, cheekbone and right eye, was one of several children who charmed the fourth in line to the throne at the ninth annual WellChild Awards at the Dorchester Hotel in London.

Dressed in a tuxedo and dickie bow, little Jonathan He, six, from Milton Keynes, stole the show by by performing a song called I Dig My Garden for Harry.

Congratulations: Held at the Dorchester Hotel in London, the WellChild awards featured categories like Inspirational Child, won by Madison Kirk (left) and Jonathan He

A prince walks into a bar: Harry listens as Jonathan He tells him a joke. The prince was in attendance at an awards ceremony for disabled children

Winners: On stage with Harry are all the winners of the most inspirational categories of the WellChild Awards 2013

Prince Harry talks to Maidison Kirk, aged six, at the Dorchester Hotel during the awards ceremony

Jonathan, who has a rare genetically inherited immune condition and glaucoma, told the Prince how he learned to cook while unable to eat food for six months.

Harry, wearing a navy suit, white shirt and pale blue patterned tie, was asked by Madison Kirk, six: 'What's it like to be a Prince?'

Harry replied diplomatically: 'Good and bad.'

He seemed unimpressed when Laughlan Dougall, 11, from Cambuslang, Glasgow, told him he supported Scottish football giants Celtic.

Laughlan, who has undergone more than 50 brain operations, asked the Prince to close his eyes and then put a Tam o' Shanter with ginger wig on his head. 'I've already got one of these. Now I've got two,' said Harry.

At the end of the ceremony, Harry delivered a short speech, which he gave confidently and without notes.

Delighted: Alexander Read, 14, attended the ceremony with sister Eleanor and mum Shirley

Happy: Prince Harry and Jonathan He, six, share a joke with his father Ning during the awards ceremony

Prince Charming: Harry meets Lisa and Holly Freen, both 16, at the WellChild Awards

He described the award winners as 'unbelievably brave' and said: 'I'm hugely humbled to be patron of WellChild and I count myself incredibly lucky to be patron, as well as coming down here this evening.

'It's always so clear for everyone to see how brave and inspirational the children are, but very easy to forget what a huge effect it has on the parents, nurses and all the family.'

He said for those 'not as brave' as the children, who are older and 'quite grey and wrinkly', that: 'It means so much to us, to see what you can do.

'It reminds us of all the things we take for granted. It puts us back in our box.'

He said it was a 'privilege' to meet the children and hear their stories, and added: 'The more help that this charity gets, the better. It stands way above the rest as far as I'm concerned with all the work it does.'

A royal spokesman confirmed Harry had spent time with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace earlier today.

The Prince joined a host of celebrities including Rod Stewart, Pixie Lott, Ainsley Harriott, Karren Brady, and Duncan Bannatyne at the glittering awards ceremony.

Having a laugh: Prince Harry meets Lauchlan Dougall, 11, who gave the Royal a Tam o' Shanter hat