Why Prince Harry decided to accept Pat Tillman ESPY Award after backlash

After a great deal speculation, Prince Harry in the long run approved the Pat Tillman Award for Provider at Thursday’s 2024 ESPY Awards.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, was honored for his military services encounter and do the job on the Invictus Video games at the star-studded ceremony, hosted by tennis legend Serena Williams.

And while Harry was rumored to have been considering to decrease the coveted recognition, he in the end determined to accept it.

According to former royal butler Grant Harrold, who knew the royal individually, Harry did so to “stand up for what he thinks in.”

“I thought he was likely to drop it simply because which is just his nature, but possibly Harry has bought to a point in which he’s just made the decision he’s heading to do what he desires and as I mentioned, for the reason that of his armed service history and mainly because of the Invictus Games, it’s anything he feels genuinely passionate about,” Harrold solely told The Article.

“He’s accepting the award on the behalf of armed forces staff, so in a bizarre way he likely sees it as his duty to accept it.”

“That’s why I consider he’s done it and maybe he’s determined to disregard the men and women that are striving to be destructive about it,” he added on behalf of Slingo.

Harry was get over with emotion just after he was released by veterans and earlier Tillman Award winners and Invictus athletes Marine Sgt. Kirstie Ennis, Army Sgt. Elizabeth Marks and US Air Force Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro Jr.

“I stand right here not as Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award receiver, but relatively a voice on behalf of the Invictus Game titles Foundation and the countless numbers of veterans and company personnel from in excess of 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality,” claimed the father of two, who give up royal lifetime in 2020. “This award belongs to them, not to me.”

Without a doubt, Harrold has echoed the Duke’s sentiment, indicating that the honor no question “means a lot” to Harry.

“It demonstrates people today take pleasure in what he does with the Invictus Game titles, it also reveals folks respect him for what he has done from his profession in the armed service, which I imagine is also essential,” he mentioned.

“His military services vocation was genuinely critical to Harry, I keep in mind this, it was also quite essential to his late grandmother [Queen Elizabeth II] and grandfather [Prince Philip] who have been extremely proud of him as very well and what he has attained.”

The award didn’t arrive without having some critics, nevertheless — including Tillman’s mom, Mary Tillman.

“I am stunned as to why they would choose these a controversial and divisive individual to get the award,” she told the Every day Mail last thirty day period. “There are recipients that are far additional fitting. Folks are operating in the veteran group that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.”

Mary defined that these people today “do not have the income, methods, connections or privilege” that the youngest son of King Charles III has.

Irrespective of the backlash, Harry stated Mary in his speech on Thursday night time. “[Mary’s] advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply individual and a person that I respect,” he stated. “The bond among a mother and son is everlasting and transcends even the finest losses.”

Harry arrived to the star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles with wife Meghan Markle by his aspect.

The “Suits” alum, 42, did not sign up for her spouse onstage, but rather seemed on proudly from the auditorium.