Harry Makes First Public Appearance Since Vegas

Prince Harry will make his first public appearance since pictures of him naked appeared on the web when he attends an awards ceremony tonight.

The prince, a patron of the organisation WellChild, is guest of honour at its annual event celebrating the lives of the youngsters it helps and the doctors and nurses who care for them.

Headlines were generated around the world when pictures of Harry frolicking in the nude with an unnamed naked woman during a trip to Las Vegas were published on a celebrity gossip website last month.

Only The Sun defied a request to UK newspapers by St James's Palace to respect the prince's privacy and not publish the pictures.

The tabloid's front-page image of Harry covering himself up, and another inside of him with his bottom exposed, generated 3,600 complaints to the press watchdog.

David Dinsmore, The Sun's managing editor, said the paper "thought long and hard" before using the pictures.

He insisted it was about the freedom of the press rather than moralising about the prince's actions.

Before the awards ceremony, at a London hotel, Harry will meet all the winners and their families at a reception.

Later he will present the award for most inspirational child, in the three to six-year age group, and give a speech.