Prince Harry faces an important decision over a high-profile public appearance later this month, after receiving backlash upon being named the recipient of a prestigious award, a British news show has heard.
It was announced on June 27 that this year the ESPN ESPY [Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly] Awards will honor Harry with the Pat Tillman Award for Service. The accolade is one of many expected to be presented at a red-carpet awards gala hosted by former tennis pro Serena Williams in Los Angeles on July 11.
Though no stranger to a red carpet or high-profile awards shows since his split from the monarchy with Meghan Markle in 2020, Harry's attendance has not yet been publicly confirmed.
Newsweek's chief royal correspondent, Jack Royston, told Sky News on Wednesday that recent controversy surrounding the decision to honor Harry could give him cause to consider any attendance carefully. Newsweek has approached representatives of Prince Harry via email for comment.
"It's been a slightly difficult week for Prince Harry," Royston said. "It started well. Last week, he was put forward for an award in America, something called an ESPY, which is a kind of sports award run by ESPN, and he was put forward for one that is the Pat Tillman Award for Service."
Tillman was an NFL star who played for the Arizona Cardinals from 1998 until 2002. It was after the September 11 attacks in 2001 that Tillman was inspired to leave his football career and enlist in the military, eventually serving as a U.S. Army Ranger.
Tillman was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 in a case of friendly fire during an enemy ambush. His family founded the Pat Tillman Foundation in the same year to honor the legacy of the American hero, primarily through a scholarship program for veterans and their spouses.
To mark the 10th anniversary of his death in 2014, ESPN, in conjunction with the foundation, announced the creation of the ESPY Pat Tillman Award for Service. Its aim is to honor individuals who echo the legacy of Tillman with a connection to sport.
On June 28, ESPN announced that this year's recipient would be Prince Harry, for his roles as a veteran and for supporting the global veteran community through his work with the Invictus Games tournament.
Harry is patron of The Games, which provide an international platform to showcase the mental and physical rehabilitation of wounded, sick or injured ex-servicemen and women.
"Now they're giving it to Prince Harry," Royston said of the award. "But Pat Tillman's mother doesn't think Harry should get it. She says that he's too privileged, he's too controversial a figure, and that they should have given it to an unsung hero, somebody who didn't already have the fame and who didn't already have the platform."
Tillman's mother, Marie Tillman, told U.K. newspaper The Mail on Sunday that she considers there to be more deserving individuals to benefit from the honor.
"I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award," Marie Tillman said. "There are recipients that are far more fitting. There are individuals working in the veteran community that 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 recognized."
This has drawn comment from Harry's online critics.
"This has kind of gone off with a bang, and various other people have taken up this cause. There's even a petition, which has something in the ballpark of 50,000 signatures, calling for ESPN to change tack, but for now, they are sticking to their guns," Royston said. This was in reference to a statement issued by the sports outlet, defending its position.
"ESPN, with the support of the Tillman Foundation, is honoring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, 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," the sports outlet said in a statement on July 1.
"While we understand not everyone will agree with all honorees selected for any award, The Invictus Games Foundation does incredible work and ESPN believes this is a cause worth celebrating."
With the heightened controversy now surrounding the award, Royston said Harry is now left with the difficult decision over whether he accepts it in person or not.
"They're saying Harry deserves it because of all the work he's done with the Invictus Games in support of wounded veterans," Royston said of ESPN. "So, for Harry, he's now got to decide whether he turns up in person to collect it."
Previously, entertainment expert Mark Boardman told Newsweek it would be a good idea for the prince to attend alongside wife, Meghan Markle, giving both an opportunity to be seen in connection with a positive cause.
"The high-profile nature of the ESPYs, combined with the positive narrative around the award, makes it an ideal opportunity for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to be seen together in a favorable light," Boardman said.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
