DIARY OF I’m sleeping with my award tonight ...I don’t want to wake up and find it was all a dream
Harmonie-Rose Allen is the adorable bundle of positivity who captured millions of hearts at the Pride of Britain Awards. The brave quadruple amputee picked up the Child of Courage award at the star-studded event.
And she inspired fellow winners and emotional celebrities by telling them: “If you believe, you can achieve”.
Here, Harmonie, who lives in Bath with mum Freya, dad Ross and three-year-old sister Luna, reveals her diary of an unforgettable week…
FRIDAY
WE drove down to London with my mum and dad and my two aunties.
After checking into the Hilton hotel I got dressed up in a beautiful blue dress to go and meet Carol Vorderman at the Winners’ Dinner. I had fish and chips and peas. Then Carol came over and we had a chat, we talked about what is going to happen at the ceremony tomorrow.
I got to meet all the winners and I was just amazed… they are all brilliant.
I made friends with Freddie and Hughie and Max. It was Max’s birthday and they gave him a rainbow cake and we all sang Happy Birthday.
I didn’t get to find out who is giving me my award though, even though I spent the whole night begging Carol to tell me. Really hope it’s Little Mix!
SATURDAY
WHERE do I begin! Today we were finally allowed to tell friends and family that I had won a Pride of Britain award. Ever since Ed Sheeran surprised me with the news three weeks ago I hadn’t been allowed to tell anyone. It was so tough. I even sang Perfect with him – the best song ever – but I couldn’t say a word.
In the afternoon we went to the London Eye, then rushed back to the hotel to get ready.
I got ants in my pants saying: “Can we go yet?
Can we go yet?” When I stepped off the coach and saw the red carpet I thought: “Wow, I’m a celebrity now, definitely!’
I was really excited to be sitting on the same table as
Peter Andre and his family.
They were lovely, I especially liked Peter’s wife, Emily, she was my favourite person of the night.
Simon Cowell came over to me and he said: “If you’re get nervous on stage just stick your tongue out, that’s what I do”. Then he whispered in Mum’s ear that he was going to present me with my award, so she knew but I didn’t – still a bit cheeky because he wasn’t supposed to tell anyone!
Joel Dommett was sitting behind us, and I was trying to get him to come over and have a photo with us, but he kept hiding from me.
I found out later that it was because he was giving me my award and didn’t want to give away the surprise,
I also got a photo with Westlife for my nanny because she’s in love with them.
Then when I was coming out of the toilet Vicky Pattison came up to me and asked for a selfie. How cool, a celebrity asking to take their photo with me!
When I got my Pride of Britain award
I was like: “Wow, that’s amazing.” I loved that it was Simon, Joel and Alesha Dixon who presented it to me. They are the best, even though they aren’t Little Mix.
I got back to the hotel at around 1.30am – I’m exhausted!
SUNDAY
I’M on the front page of the Daily Mirror! Everyone was super sad that we were all leaving. I said goodbye to Freddie and Hughie and got their numbers.
On the drive back to Bath we got changed into our Halloween costumes, and went straight to two parties, one at Aunty Hannah’s house and the other at The Hub, our local community centre.
I told all my friends what I’d been doing and they were like: “Oh my gosh!”
After the Halloween parties we all went out trick or treating.
When we got to my nanny’s house I showed them the photo with Westlife and told her one of them had winked at me. She was very jealous!
MONDAY
I TOOK the award into school today. We had a show and tell in class and I passed it around and let everyone have a hold.
They were all saying, “this is so heavy” and “is it real silver?”. All the teachers in school came in to have a look too.
I didn’t let it out of my sight. I put it on my desk when I was working and even took it to the loo! At break everyone crowded around me in the playground to have a look.
I’m sleeping with my award next to me in bed tonight. I don’t want to wake up tomorrow and find out it was all a dream! I even put my blanket over it to keep it warm.
TUESDAY
AFTER school today we took the train to London. As soon as we got to the station the conductor came up to me and said: “Oh you’re famous aren’t you? You won a Pride of
Britain award!” I showed him the award and he upgraded us to first class! We had a chat and he helped me into the carriage.
WEDNESDAY
A TAXI picked us up from the hotel to drive us to the Lorraine studio.
When we got there we had our make-up done – and they even put some mascara on me – and we had to wait inside this really cool waiting room with a TV.
When I walked in Ashley Banjo was sitting on the sofa! I’d met him on
Saturday, he’s like a friend. Everyone was really nice, they even gave me a birthday cake, because I’m eight years old on Sunday, and tickets for Frozen the Musical.
I’m really excited about that!
THURSDAY
TONIGHT we watched the awards with 70 other people on a huge TV at the Combe Down rugby club.
My family decorated the whole place with pink bows, tablecloths and balloons and Union Jack flags and bunting, and they invited everyone along to say thank you.
It looked amazing. There was a Pride of Britain cake with my photos on it and everyone got to eat a piece.
We went live on our local BBC news while we were waiting, I loved that.
When I appeared on TV for the first time everyone cheered! It was so fun having all my friends to share it and I love showing off my award, it made me feel so proud.
I’m still sleeping with my Pride of Britain award!
FRIDAY
I HAD a day off from being a celebrity today and went to a fireworks display at the rugby club with my family.
But my diary’s going to be in the paper tomorrow and then it’s my eighth birthday on Sunday! What an incredible week!
Watch the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, on the ITV Hub
matt.roper@mirror.co.uk