Prince Harry was blasted by a former Royal Navy chief over his nomination for the prestigious Pat Tillman Award for Service, which will take place at a glitzy awards ceremony in the US this month.
It was announced in June that the Duke of Sussex will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service at this year`s ESPY (Excellence in Sport Performance Yearly) Awards in Los Angeles on July 11. It will be hosted by tennis star Serena Williams, a friend of Meghan Markle.
The awards – named after former NFL player and US Army Ranger Pat Tillman, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 – are handed out by sports channel ESPN to individuals in the sporting world who have made significant contributions to the lives of others.
But the news sparked a backlash worldwide, with a petition being set up urging the awards organisers to rethink their decision.
Even Tillman’s mother Mary told the Mail she was “shocked” by Prince Harry’s nomination because there were “far more suitable recipients”.
Now Admiral Alan West, who was First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from 2002 to 2006, has slammed the royal family, issuing an eight-word warning over his nomination.
Lord West warned Harry that he should “think very carefully and carefully” about accepting certain awards because it would be “bad for military personnel”. He also urged him to decline the Pat Tillman award.
A Labour colleague told the Mail: “People should think very carefully before accepting awards such as extraordinary piloting or extraordinary bravery.”
“Part of the blame has to go to ESPN. They like to pick him because it brings them great publicity. But this is pretty bad publicity for Harry,” Lord West said, advising the Duke to “keep quiet and not accept any such awards.”
He said, “And if the dead man’s mother doesn’t want him to have this award, then he should think about it.”
“My advice to him is to not accept any prizes at this time and to wait and see. The only reason they go to him is because he’s so famous and people want to take advantage of that.”
Prince Harry is being honoured for founding the Invictus Games 10 years ago to help wounded and sick soldiers, including those on active duty. As a military veteran, he supports those battling physical and invisible wounds.
ESPN announced that Prince Harry was being recognised for his “tireless efforts to positively impact the veteran community through the power of sport”.
The Invictus Games are said to have “transcended borders and impacted lives on every continent”. Meanwhile, a source told The Telegraph that the duke was “stunned” by the backlash.
They said: “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.”