Bristol schoolgirl Lucy Tutton sat on Prince Harry's knee last night at an award's ceremony in recognition of brave children and those who care for them.

The Royal joined youngsters, including eight-year-old Lucy, from Filton, at the star-studded WellChild Children's Health awards in central London.

Lucy was named 'Most Caring Child' at the ceremony, in recognition of her hard work helping to care for her five-year-old sister Sophie, who has Rett Syndrome, a neurological disorder causing learning, mobility, communication difficulties and epilepsy.

Lucy sat on the Prince's knee as the pair chatted before the ceremony, and was left virtually speechless after meeting the Prince and could only describe him as "brilliant".

She was nominated by her teaching assistant Jayne Baxter, for being a big help to her parents, Faith, 36, and Paul, 39, in caring for Sophie. She administers oxygen when Sophie is having a seizure, helps to calm Sophie and loves to read to her. Prince Harry is patron of WellChild, a UK-based charity dedicated to meeting the needs of sick children and their families.

At the end of the awards ceremony, the prince paid tribute to all the "courageous winners" and also passed his condolences on to the families of winners who have died since being named as recipients.

Those included five-year-old Aimee Humphries, from Emersons Green, who battled a rare genetic disease for most of her life but died just weeks before the ceremony. She was named as the 'Bravest Female Child' in the two-to-five-year-old category. At six months old, Aimee was diagnosed with the rare disease, which can lead to neurological problems, enlarged liver and spleen and eye problems.

Her mum, Jackie, 39, nominated her daughter because she was an inspiration to everyone.

Jackie, a legal secretary, said: "Aimee had real love and kindness for others, never giving a second thought to her own situation. She has kept us laughing when all we wanted to do was cry."

The Prince spent around half an hour meeting all the award winners, who not only included children with serious illnesses but doctors, nurses and other health professionals who look after youngsters with chronic illnesses.

Celebrities including Sharon Osbourne, footballer Jermain Defoe and comic Joe Pasquale were also at the event at the InterContinental Park Lane hotel.