‘Controversial and divisive’: Prince Harry’s latest high-profile US award sparks further backlash
Prince Harry at the finals of the Invictus Games' wheelchair basketball in 2022 in The Hague. Photo: Getty
Back in January, when Prince Harry became a “living legend of aviation” at a Hollywood gala – joining previous inductees Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin – the award sparked intense backlash.
The organisers believed his 10-year stint in the British Army, which included two tours of duty in Afghanistan as a forward air controller and an Apache helicopter co-pilot gunner, was enough to get him over the line.
But retired British army colonel Richard Kemp said there were more deserving military servicemen and women.
“I can think of many people who did pretty extraordinary things while serving in the British and American armed forces who would be much more deserving of an award like this,” he told The Sun at the time.
“It’s obviously because of who he is – not what he did. An Apache is crewed by two people – a pilot and a gunner. Harry was a gunner. He was No.2 in the aircraft.”
The former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West, also thought otherwise, saying the Duke of Sussex, 39, had done little to earn the accolade.
Fast forward six months and the King’s estranged younger son has won another trophy for the poolroom.
On July 11, he will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPY Awards (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly, run by ESPN Sports Network).
It will recognise Harry’s impact on the veterans community through his founding of the Invictus Games in 2014.
Tillman gave up his multimillion-dollar American football career at Arizona Cardinals and enlisted in the military with his brother Kevin after the September 11 terror attacks in 2001.
He served in Iraq and was killed in an ambush “providing cover for fellow soldiers” in Afghanistan in 2004. He was 27.
Tillman’s mother, Mary, is among the critics of Harry’s award.
“I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” she said, according to the Daily Mail.
“There are recipients who are far more fitting. There are individuals working in the veteran community who are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.
“These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has. I feel that those types of individuals should be recognised.”
Harry with Jill Biden and Michelle Obama at an Invictus Games event at a US army base in Virginia in 2015. Photo: Getty
Harry’s dream
When Harry released his 2023 memoir, Spare, he revealed much about growing up in the British royal family, his military career, marrying former Suits actor Meghan Markle, and eventually quitting the royal family in 2020.
In between was the very real story about how Harry, who rose to the rank of captain, wanted to stay connected to his military mates.
When on a US royal tour to promote the rehabilitation of wounded British and American soldiers in 2013, Harry saw the Warrior Games in Colorado.
“[It’s] a kind of Olympiad for wounded soldiers, with 200 men and women taking part, each of whom inspired me,” he wrote.
On the flight back to the UK, Harry pencilled his vision for something similar.
“A version of those Warrior Games, but perhaps with more soldiers, more visibility, more benefits to participants … a Paralympics for soldiers from all over the world! In London’s Olympic Park!”
And so the Invictus Games became his cause célebre.
Not everyone agrees
As the fallout from the Tillman Award hit the headlines, more than 40,000 people have (so far) signed a change.org petition to stop Harry from receiving the award.
Patti Mickel, from Maple Shade in New Jersey, said she started the petition after Tillman’s story touched him deeply. She argued the award should go to someone who respected Tillman’s memory.
“Prince Harry, while a former military officer, has been involved in controversies that call into question his suitability to receive an honour of this magnitude,” Mickel wrote.
“He has faced accusations of endangering his squadron by publicly revealing military kills [Harry wrote that he killed 25 Taliban fighters in combat].
“His role in the Invictus Games, a platform meant to celebrate the resilience and dedication of veterans, has been criticised as self-centred.”
ESPN said in a statement to People that it had the support of the Tillman Foundation [founded by Pat’s widow Marie], and was honouring the prince “specifically for the work of the Invictus Games Foundation as it celebrates its 10th year promoting healing through the power of sport for military service members and veterans around the world”.
“While we understand not everyone will agree with all honourees selected for any award, the Invictus Games Foundation does incredible work, and ESPN believes this is a cause worth celebrating,” it said.
The Heritage Foundation boss Nile Gardiner told GB News Harry and Meghan were “very divisive figures” in the UK.
“This award is very, very controversial. There’s a huge backlash in the United States, and it’s an illustration of just how unpopular Harry and Meghan are on both sides of the Atlantic,” he said.
