WHEN bubbly Katie Ward met Prince Harry at an awards ceremony, she could not help but give him her biggest smile.

The inspirational schoolgirl, ten, won a WellChild Award for her bravery aafter battling with a rare condition.

Katie, a pupil at Bishop William Ward School in Great Horkesley, was born with spondeloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, which means she can not move without help and has to be fed through a tube.

She was also born with a re-stricted growth condition with has caused other health prob-lems, including paralysis.

But determined Katie, of Hakewill Way, Colchester, met stars including Royal patron Prince Harry, TV magician Dynamo and dance sensation Ashley Banjo as she collected her Inspirational Child award.

Mum Ruth, who nominated Katie for the award, said: “She had an amazing time, everyone else had got off the stage and Katie stayed up there chatting to Ashley Banjo and Prince Harry.

“She was nervous at the start but I think she was really proud of herself, she even got a selfie with rapper Stormzy.

“It was really nice for her to hear all those positive things about her.”

Katie has also set up a Youtube channel, Sparklefish K, which contains 20 facts about Katie - none of which mention her disability or health issues.

Prince Harry said he would tune in next time, and asked her to make a special WellChild Awards video for her channel.

Katie said: “Prince Harry was really nice, we were talking about all different things.

“The awards were really amazing, I was so nervous I think I actually held my award the wrong way round.

“I’m really proud.”

She collected her award at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London after being picked from hundreds of other children. Prince Harry said in his speech all the children were amazingly brave.

He said: “Many of the children and young people WellChild support have been dealt the hardest card imaginable in life, and yet their courage inspires the most incredible strength in those around them.

“I meet the parents, who are often powerless to change their children’s fate, but will do everything they can to make the most of each moment.

“I see the nurses and clinical staff, who become a lifeline for these families that just want to be at home rather than in hospital.

“But what everybody has in common is the sense of grace, positivity and good humour that creates a community of support.”