TEENAGER Lyndon Longhorne was honoured by royalty tonight as he picked up a national award for his courage.

The 13-year-old from Crook, County Durham, met Prince Harry at the WellChild awards in London.

WellChild, an organisation for sick children, chose Lyndon, who lost both legs and part of his arm due to a near-fatal bout of meningitis as a baby, as its Bravest Child of 2009.

He was presented with the accolade at a ceremony at the InterContinental Park Lane Hotel, in London last night.

Prince Harry, who is patron of WellChild, 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.

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

The Prince told the audience, who included comedian Joe Pasquale and Premiership footballer Jermain Defoe, who plays for Tottenham: "Most of us here tonight have not, thank goodness, had to face the enormous challenges of our courageous winners.

"But what you give to all of us through your supreme example, is a very simple thing - inspiration.

"These awards really inspire me - you inspire me and I feel I am just so lucky to be patron of a charity called WellChild."

Lyndon was nominated for the award by his mother, Tammy Shevels.

The family are also celebrating after a campaign backed by The Northern Echo to raise £10,000 for artificial legs from a private clinic reached its target.

Lyndon will soon travel to Leeds for a cast of his stumps.