Prince Harry ‘stunned’ by backlash to his Pat Tillman ESPY Award nod

The decision to honour Prince Harry with a coveted award in the US has been met with outcry, which has reportedly left the royal deeply upset.

Prince Harry is believed to have been left “stunned” by the backlash he received after being named the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPYs.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, is set to be honoured at the glitzy July 11 ceremony for his military experience and work on the Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014.

The announcement raised eyebrows, including those of the late hero’s mum, Mary Tillman, who criticised ESPN and claimed she was never consulted about the decision to select Harry for the gong.

Prince Harry has reportedly been left deeply hurt over backlash. Picture: Kola Sulaimon/AFP

A source claims the fallout has been a “bitter pill to swallow” for the Sussexes.

“Harry’s legacy on Invictus, the things he has achieved, that’s his real passion,” a source told the Telegraph.

The insider said while Harry is no stranger to being under scrutiny, he particularly found discourse surrounding his military background upsetting.

“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 insider claimed.

The Post has reached out to Harry’s reps for comment.

Harry served in the British armed forces for 10 years. Picture: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images

ESPN has since defended its decision to honour Harry, saying his work on the Invictus Games “is a cause worth celebrating.”

The prestigious award is handed out to individuals who have made significant contributions in the world, which echo the legacy of the former NFL player and US Army Ranger, who enlisted after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Tillman, a former safety for the Arizona Cardinals, served in Iraq and then Afghanistan before he was killed by friendly fire in 2004, with the soldier posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his service.

Footballer turned soldier, the late Army Ranger Sergeant Pat Tillman, who was killed while serving in Afghanistan.

The source noted that the situation is eerily similar to when Harry- who served in the British armed forces for 10 years, including two tours of duty in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter pilot and a forward air controller – was recognised as a aviator.

In January, the father-of-two received the Living Legends of Aviation award, handed to him by host John Travolta.

The younger son of King Charles was subsequently inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation Hall of Fame.

The decision was later slammed by Admiral Lord West, former head of the Royal Navy, who simply said that Harry “is not a living legend.”

The Sussexes have since been accused of “collecting trophies” to “buy the public’s respect.”

This story originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission