HISTORIAN and biographer Hugo Vickers said Prince Harry doesn’t need an award and his attempt to reinvent himself is failing.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Hugo discussed The Pat Tillman Award for Service the Duke of Sussex will win.
The Sun’s Royal Editor, Matt Wilkinson asked Hugo whether he thought it was uncomfortable that Harry was winning the award.
Hugo replied: “I think it is a bit uncomfortable – he doesn’t need to win an award.
“I think it is a bit uncomfortable, he doesn’t need an award.
“I think what he did with the Invictus Games was brilliant and I am glad he is still doing things for them.
“The problem is it gets tied up with this need for reinvention, publicity, which they’re always doing.
“I feel sorry for happy because he looks unhappy, I think he is out of his depth if I am to be honest.”
Hugo said that the Royal Family should not receive awards and should instead only give them out.
But, he said he worried that the award was more for their benefit and the longer they tried to tell their story through publicity events, the more tired of it the public would become.
Hugo said: “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.”
Hugo’s comments on Royal Exclusive come after similar comments were made by the mother of the man the award is named after.
In a conversation with the Daily Mail, Mary slammed the prince: “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.”
The former head of the Royal Navy has also urged the prince to turn the award down and said it doesn’t sit well with people in the military.
Lord West said Harry should think “hard and long” about accepting awards for military bravery.
He said: “Some of the blame must lie with ESPN. They like picking him because it gives them immense publicity. But this is rather bad publicity for Harry.
“I really think Harry should be well advised to sit back and not accept awards like this. It doesn’t travel well with people in the military. And when the mother of the man who died doesn’t want him to get this award, he should think about that.
THE late Pat Tillman is remembered as a hero by many in the US.
In 2002, he gave up a £3million contract in the NFL, with the Arizona Cardinals, to enlist in the US Army after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Pat went on to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan until 2004 when he was killed by friendly fire. Initially his death was reported to have been caused by the Taliban.
The American football star, who was just 27 years old at the time of his death, was one of the most famous soldiers since Elvis Presley.
He was posthumously promoted from specialist to corporal and received the Silver Star and Purple Heart medals.
The Pat Tillman Award for Service was established in 2014 to commemorate the sportsman and war hero.
It’s awarded annually by ESPN at the annual ESPY Awards to people from the sporting world who have made significant contributions to the lives of others.
“My advice to him is to sit back and not accept any awards at the moment. They are going his way because has such a high profile and people want to take advantage of that.”
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.
The Duke has today congratulated the athletes who will represent Team UK at the next games, after 64 competitors were revealed in Milton Keynes.
The games are being held in Whistler, Canada, next year and are the first to feature winter sports.
The Team, who are all wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans, came together to celebrate their selection for the first ever winter Games through a skiing and snowboarding session which featured adaptive sit ski equipment today.
Harry said: “Congratulations to those selected for Team UK for our first-ever Winter Invictus Games in Vancouver Whistler next February.
“Team UK will join over 500 competitors from across 20 nations in this groundbreaking event that expands the range and profile of winter adaptive sports.
“These games present an incredible opportunity for our courageous service personnel and veterans to demonstrate their skills in new challenges like Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding and Skeleton, as well as providing a truly memorable experience for their families.
“We’re excited to see their passion, determination, and resilience on full display as they take on this new chapter.”
The Invictus Games runs for one week. It sees over 500 athletes compete over nine core sports – as well as additional activities and competitions, including esports.
Sporting events at the Games include wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby, and indoor rowing.
In 2023, 21 countries including Israel, Colombia and Nigeria will take part in the tournament – which will also see Rita Ora sing at the closing ceremony.
The first ever Invictus Games took place in March 2014 at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
The Buffalo Bills’ training staff (2023) after Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on field.
Retired US Army Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans (2022) who founded Team Unbroken, an adaptive racing team of mostly veterans.
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford (2021).
Health care worker and boxing champion Kim Clavel (2020).
Kristie Ennis, former Marine and founder of the Kristie Ennis Foundation (2019).
Navy-Marine Commendation Medal recipient, Sergeant and founder of Team Rubicon Jake Wood (2018).
Purple Heart recipient and Invictus Games gold medalist Israel Del Toro (2017).
U.S. Army Sgt. and Invictus Games gold medalist Elizabeth Marks (2016).
Former Notre Dame basketball player, Iraq War veteran and Purple Heart recipient Danielle Green (2015).
U.S. Paralympic gold-medal sled hockey player and Purple Heart recipient Josh Sweeney (2014).
