HISTORIAN and biographer Hugo Vickers said Prince Harry doesn’t need an award and his attempt to reinvent himself is failing.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive programme, Hugo discussed the Pat Tillman Award for Service that the Duke of Sussex will win.
7
7
7
The Sun’s royal editor Matt Wilkinson asked Hugo if he found it uncomfortable that Harry was winning the award.
Hugo replied: “I think it’s a bit uncomfortable – he doesn’t need to win an award.
“I find it a little uncomfortable, he doesn’t need a prize.
“I think what he did at the Invictus Games was brilliant and I’m happy he’s still doing things for them.
“The problem is that this is linked to this need for reinvention, for advertising, which they are always doing.
“I’m sorry I’m happy because he looks unhappy, I think he’s lost, to be honest.”
Hugo said that the Royal Family should not receive awards and should just hand them out.
But he said he feared the award would be more for their benefit and the more they tried to tell their story through publicity events, the more jaded the public would become.
Hugo said: “The difference between what they are [Harry and Meghan] doing and what the British Royal Family is doing – the British Royal Family is working for the nation, the Commonwealth, and Harry and Meghan seem to be working for themselves.
“And that’s always unattractive, I think.”
Hugo’s comments about the Royal Exclusive come after similar comments made by the mother of the man after whom the award is named.
In conversation with the Daily MailMary criticized the prince: “I am shocked at why they chose such a controversial and controversial individual to receive the award.
“There are beneficiaries who are much more suitable. There are individuals working in the veteran community who are doing incredible things to help veterans.
“These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privileges that Prince Harry has.
7
7
“I think these types of individuals should be recognized.”
The former head of the Royal Navy also urged the prince to refuse the award and said he did not like the military.
Lord West said Harry should think “long and hard” about accepting awards for military bravery.
He said: “Part of the blame must lie with ESPN. They like to pick him because it gives them immense publicity. But this is pretty bad publicity for Harry.
“I really think Harry should be advised to sit down and not accept awards like this. It doesn’t sit well with military people. And when the mother of the man who died doesn’t want him to receive this award, he should think about it.”
Who was Pat Tillman?
The late Pat Tillman is remembered as a hero by many in the US.
In 2002, he gave up a £3 million NFL contract with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the US Army following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Pat served in Iraq and Afghanistan until 2004, when he was killed by friendly fire. Initially, it was reported that his death was caused by the Taliban.
The American football star, who was just 27 when he died, was one of the most famous soldiers since Elvis Presley.
He was posthumously promoted from specialist to corporal and received the Silver Star and Purple Heart medals.
The Pat Tillman Service Award was created in 2014 to honor the sportsman and war hero.
It is given annually by ESPN at the annual ESPY Awards to people in the sports world who have made significant contributions to the lives of others.
“My advice to him is to keep quiet and not accept any awards at the moment. They are following his path because he has a very high profile and people want to take advantage of that.”
It was created after Pat Tillman, a former NFL player turned Marine, was killed while serving in Afghanistan.
For the past 10 years, the Pat Tillman Award for Service has previously been given to unsung heroes — “to a person with a strong connection to the sport who has served others in a way that echoes the legacy of the former NFL player and Army Ranger from the USA, Pat Tillman”, explains ESPN.
Harry praises vets
The Duke today congratulated the athletes who will represent Team UK at the upcoming games, after 64 competitors were revealed in Milton Keynes.
The games will be held in Whistler, Canada next year and are the first to feature winter sports.
The team, made up of wounded, injured and ill staff and veterans, came together to celebrate their selection for the first Winter Games through a ski and snowboard session that today featured adaptive sit ski equipment.
Harry said: “Congratulations to those selected for the UK team at our first Winter Invictus Games in Vancouver Whistler next February.
“Team UK will join more than 500 competitors from 20 nations in this innovative event that expands the range and profile of adaptive winter sports.
“These games present an incredible opportunity for our courageous service members and veterans to demonstrate their skills in new challenges like downhill skiing, snowboarding and skeleton, while also providing a truly memorable experience for their families.
“We are thrilled to see their passion, determination and resilience on full display as they take on this new chapter.”
The Invictus Games last one week. More than 500 athletes compete in nine main sports – as well as additional activities and competitions, including esports.
Sporting events at the Games include wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and indoor rowing.
In 2023, 21 countries, including Israel, Colombia and Nigeria, will take part in the tournament – which will also feature Rita Ora singing at the closing ceremony.
The first Invictus Games took place in March 2014 at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
The Buffalo Bills (2023) coaching staff after Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field.
Retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans (2022) who founded Team Unbroken, an adaptive running team comprised primarily of veterans.
Marcus Rashford, Manchester United star (2021).
Healthcare professional and boxing champion Kim Clavel (2020).
Kristie Ennis, former Marine and founder of the Kristie Ennis Foundation (2019).
Navy-Marine Commendation Medal recipient, Sergeant and founder of Team Rubicon Jake Wood (2018).
Israel Del Toro, Purple Heart winner and Invictus Games gold medalist (2017).
U.S. Army Sgt. and Invictus Games gold medalist Elizabeth Marks (2016).
Former Notre Dame basketball player, Iraq War veteran, and Purple Heart recipient Danielle Green (2015).
Josh Sweeney, US Paralympic gold medal sled hockey player and Purple Heart recipient (2014).
7
7
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
