Despite the controversy surrounding the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPYs that was presented to Prince Harry on Thursday and the discontent shown by certain people and the mother of the soldier whose name the award carries, ESPY claimed the Duke was honored for his “tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community through the power of sport” with the Invictus Games he created years ago.
The petition on Change.org urging ESPN to reconsider the decision gathered over 70,000 signatures. “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.”
A spokesman for ESPY answered, “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.”
The Telegraph reports that Harry is surprised by the criticism. A source from the newspaper stated that it has been particularly difficult for him to accept the negative feedback regarding his work with veterans. This backlash might create difficulties for him as he tries to build a career on his past military experiences.
“Harry’s legacy on Invictus, the things he has achieved, that’s his real passion. This is the space in which he truly feels at home, it is something he deeply cares about. The reaction certainly took the shine off the award,” the source added.
Among those who criticized ESPN’s choice to present Harry with the award is US commentator Lee Cohen.
In an opinion piece for The Sun, Cohen argues that Harry is insulting veterans by abandoning his country.
“The idea of rewarding a Royal Prince who abandoned his duty and capitalized on his title for personal gain is an affront to the legacy of Pat Tillman and is even more misplaced than ludicrously naming Harry a “Legend of Aviation,’” Cohen wrote.
“More discretion must be exhibited in the selection of award recipients, ensuring that they truly represent the values and qualities embodied by the award. To do otherwise is quite frankly offensive and ridiculous.”
Another worry on Harry’s mind is that he misses his friends back home and his old life. According to Tom Quinn, Harry’s friends haven’t visited him because of Meghan.
As a result, it’s been reported that the Duke is now looking for a “permanent” home in the UK.
“As time goes by, Harry misses some aspects of his old life in the UK. Inevitably, the honeymoon period where everything in the States is new and exciting is coming to an end and Harry is looking back at the past through rose-tinted spectacles,” Quinn told the Mirror.
“He misses his Old Etonian and army friends, many of whom have not visited as they don’t get on with Meghan. Harry is determined to find his own permanent home in the UK, which is partly why he’s continuing his legal action to get the British taxpayer to pay for his security.”
Predictions coming from the author of Prince Edward’ ‘s 2022 memoir A Royal Life, Hugo Vickers, are that Harry would likely return to UK permanently without Meghan although he is “petrified” of losing her. “I think he’ll come home,” Vickers told The Sun. “I think he’ll come home, and if he comes home, we must be very nice to him because he won’t particularly want to. He’s quite angry, I think.”
If that happens, Vickers claims, King Charles would embrace him with arms wide open and would allow him to be a working royal again.
“The king has left the door wide open for him to do that, and he was doing such a good job before, and … he looked so happy,” the royal expert continued. “Usually, you’re happy when you’re doing your duty and you’re doing it for other people and you’re putting things into life.”
“If you’re taking things out of life, at the risk of getting a lot of hate mail, I personally think that he looks like he’s petrified of losing her [Meghan] and looks slightly petrified of her.”
Rumors are that Harry and Meghan have a hard time making friends in the States, which affects their relationship. Royal expert Tom Quinn told the Mirror that the Sussexes are confronting a harsh reality check.
“There is a growing rift between Harry and Meghan caused by Meghan’s increasing concern that her life is not going in the direction she had planned,” Quinn said. “She loves media attention and hates that surveys suggest she and Harry are no longer of much interest to the American public.”
“With news that the couple’s Netflix contract may be under threat, along with the mockery that greeted the launch of her online brand, Meghan feels very much under siege,” he added.
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