Prince Harry is being honoured for his “tireless work making a positive impact for the veteran community through the power of sport” with his Invictus Games.
Prince Harry is being honoured for his “tireless work making a positive impact for the veteran community through the power of sport” with his Invictus Games.
Prince Harry has been accused by one royal commentator of “leaving a life of service to chase fame in Hollywood”.
It comes as some people are furious over the Duke of Sussex’s recent award nomination.
The US-based royal has recently been honoured for his work in making a positive impact in the veteran community through the Invictus Games charity, which he founded in 2014.
Harry will receive a memorial award set up in the name of Pat Tillman – an American football player who gave up a £3million contract to enlist in the US Army after 9/11 and died by friendly fire.
Speaking on TalkTV, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield said: “This [Pat Tillman] was a man that truly lived a life of service which is what Harry and Megan promised us when they left the British Royal Family.
“In contrast, Harry left a life of service to chase fame, to chase money in Hollywood, so a lot of people are having a hard time putting these two men in the same category.”
She added: “I mean, I think that the Invictus Games is an incredible cause but it’s a cause, if we’re going to be honest, that was created under the Royal Family umbrella this is not Prince Harry’s and Prince Harry’s alone”.
The Invictus Games was founded on a trip to the Warrior Games in the USA in 2013, “when Prince Harry saw how the power of sport could help wounded servicemen and women in their recovery – physically, psychologically and socially,” according to the Royal Family’s official website.
Pat Tillman’s mother has spoken out about Harry’s award saying she was “not consulted” and is “shocked” as to why such a “controversial and divisive individual” would recieve it.
She 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 recognised.”
Harry served in the military for 10 years and was deployed on active duty to Afghanistan on two occasions in 2007 and 2008.
One year before leaving the Army, Harry founded the Invictus Games and has amplified and shon a light on service personnel and the veteran community through the biannual games.
In 2020, he and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior working members of the Royal Family before relocating from the UK to the US.
