HISTORIAN and biographer Hugo Vickers said royal fans will eventually get “bored” of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “telling their story”.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Hugo discussed The Pat Tillman Award for Service, the Duke of Sussex has been nominated for.
The Sun’s Royal Editor, Matt Wilkinson said: “Harry’s getting this award for his service, but also for his work with Invictus Games.
“But his [Pat Tillman’s] mother [Mary Tillman] is incredible upset about this.
“How do we feel about this? Is it uncomfortable that he’s winning this award?”
Hugo replied: “I think it is a bit uncomfortable – he doesn’t need to win an award.
“I think what he did with Invictus Games is brilliant – and I’m glad he’s still doing things for them. That’s very good.
“But the trouble is, it gets tied up with all this need for reinvention, publicity and things like that, which they’re always doing.”
Matt added: “With this award…[Pat’s] mother said he [Harry] shouldn’t have it.
“And there’s a question as to whether members of the Royal Family should be picking up awards like this. The Royal Family give out awards.”
The expert said: “They [royals] should give them out, they should, absolutely.
“Sometimes if it’s an award which highlights the people giving the award and it’s helpful for the member of the royal family to receive it. I can understand that that would be useful.
“What I’m worried about is that it’s more publicity for Prince Harry.
“It seems to me that they have a problem, those two [Harry and Meghan].
“They’ve told their story, I don’t know how they can go on telling their story, and eventually, people are likely to get bored with it, I imagine.
“The difference between what they’re [Harry and Meghan] doing and what the British Royal Family are doing – the British Royal Family are working for the nation, the Commonwealth, and Harry and Meghan seem to be working for themselves.
“And that’s always unattractive I think.”
Referencing Mary Tillman’s response to Harry’s nomination, Matt said: “The opposition to this has backfired. Turning up to an award and the mother of the award who it’s named after has said that she doesn’t want Harry [to win it].
Harry and Meghan seem to be working for themselves.
Hugo Vickers
“It’s a terrible look – I worry he has been pushed into this award somehow and will be used by other people to get publicity for the award.
“I don’t want anything bad to happen to Prince Harry, we wish him all the best.
“But I do worry the direction they’re going in, turning up, picking up awards and causing controversy.”
The Pat Tillman Award is one award given at the ESPY Awards (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly), which is run by the sports TV network ESPN.
2023 – The Buffalo Bills Training Staff, who performed life-saving measures on Damar Hamlin.
2022 – Gretchen Evans, retired Army Command Sergeant Major for founding Team UNBROKEN.
2021 – Marcus Rashford, footballer honoured for charity fundraising during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
2020 – Kim Clavel, boxing champion who returned to nursing during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
2019 – Kirstie Ennis, former Marine Corps sergeant.
2018 – Jake Wood, former Marine and college football player.
2017 – Israel Del Toro, Former Air Force Master Sergeant and Paralympic world record holder.
2016 – Elizabeth Marks, former U.S. Army Sergeant, and Paraswimmer.
2015 – Danielle Green, former Notre Dame basketball player, veteran, and Purple Heart recipient.
2014 – Joshua Sweeney, former Marine and Paralympic gold medalist.
It was created after Pat Tillman, a former NFL player turned marine, was killed while serving in Afghanistan.
For the last 10 years, Pat Tillman Award for Service has previously been given to unsung heroes – “to a person with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that echoes the legacy of the former NFL player and US Army Ranger, Pat Tillman”, ESPN explains.
In a conversation with the Daily Mail, Mary said: “I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award.
“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 recognised.”
ESPN said Harry was being honoured for his “tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community through the power of sport” with his Invictus Games.
A spokesman for ESPN responded to the backlash saying: “ESPN, with the support of the Tillman Foundation, is honouring 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.
“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.”
