EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry must do one important thing when he accepts controversial award, says expert

Tonight Prince Harry will be at the ESPY sport awards to controversially accept the Pat Tillman Award honouring the work he has done for the Invictus Games – and one expert believes there is one thing the Duke of Sussex must do when he collects his honour

Prince Harry at a service for the Invictus Games in May (
Image: Getty Images)

Prince Harry must do one important thing when he collects a controversial honour at an awards ceremony tonight, an expert has claimed.

Later today, the Duke of Sussex will be given the Pat Tillman Award at the ESPY sports awards in the US. He is being recognised for founding the Invictus Games a decade ago to support injured and sick servicemen and women, both on active duty and veterans, who are navigating physical and invisible injuries

The prestigious award is named after former NFL player and US Army Ranger Pat Tillman, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2004. However, news that he is to receive the award saw him face backlash with a petition launched on change.org urging ESPN, who run the awards ceremony, to rethink giving him the honour.

Harry at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf last year ( 
Image:
Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation)
But when accepting the award this evening at a ceremony hosted by tennis legend Serena Williams, royal expert and historian Dr Tessa Dunlop believes Harry must “ignore the naysayers” and “stand proud”. She told the Mirror: “Tonight Prince Harry will accept the Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPYS. Think America’s version of Sporting Oscars and you’re almost there, with this year’s event more high profile than ever thanks to an almighty hoo-ha over the Duke’s eligibility for the prize.

“A petition decrying the decision to award Harry the accolade, named after the late American-football-star-cum-solider Pat Tillman, has received thousands of signatures. Many have made unfair comparisons between Tillman, who gave up his NFL multi-million dollar contract to serve in Afghanistan where he was killed, and Prince Harry, who gave up life in a palace to serve two tours in Afghanistan.

“Early on Pat Tillman’s bereaved mother Mary was dragged into the saga: apparently she was ‘shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award’. Her response is understandable given the disproportionate backlash which has surprised and hurt Harry. But commentators have deliberately missed the point. Like it or not, the Duke has a gift: that gift is his ability to serve the veteran community credibly and publicly. The ten-year success of the Invictus Games speaks to that success, it is the reason why he is being rewarded tonight.

Harry serving in Afghanistan ( 
Image:
PA)

Former NFL star turned soldier Pat Tillman
“This is galling for much of the Establishment who feel abandoned by Harry, but many ex-service personnel and their families have a lot of time for the Duke.”

Tessa explained that Harry has been a successful ambassador for military veterans and has left lasting happy memories with the families of service personnel who have fallen in action. She added: “Like Mary Tillman, Helen Lewis lost her son Lieutenant Aaron Lewis in Afghanistan in 2008. The pain will never go, but in those early grief-stricken years meeting the Prince at commemorative services helped.

“Helen said: ‘I found Harry impressive, he was always so friendly and put us and the grandchildren at ease.’ She has touching footage of Harry joshing with her grandson Harrison in Westminster’s Memorial Garden. They met several times and the prince intimated to a delighted Harrison that he’d influenced the Sussexes’ decision over Archie’s middle name (also Harrison).

“That ability to connect on a human level is the key to Harry’s success as an ambassador for military veterans. He really cares. Helen recalls that year after year he never forgot to salute her little grandson – Aaron’s nephew. Now Harry has decamped to America, Helen misses the Duke’s presence, we all do, but his work goes on.

“That is the reason why he must ignore the naysayers and stand proud tonight when he collects his award. Harry is picking it up for the men and women whose lives were lost, or changed forever, in war.”