Harry Honors ‘Eternal Bond’ with Diana While Accepting Invictus Games Award

The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, spoke about the profound bond between a mother and son, describing it as one that “transcends even the greatest losses” while receiving the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY Awards in the United States.

Harry was honored by ESPN for his remarkable contributions to the lives of others through the establishment of the Invictus Games, which he founded a decade ago to support injured and ill servicemen and women, both active duty and veterans, dealing with physical and invisible injuries.

The Pat Tillman Award for Service is named after the former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman, who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2004. In his acceptance speech, Harry acknowledged Tillman’s family, particularly his mother, Mary Tillman, for her advocacy in preserving her son’s legacy.

“Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect,” Harry said. “The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses.” Harry’s comments came ahead of the anniversary of the death of his own mother, Princess Diana.

The 2024 ESPY (Excellence in Sport Performance Yearly) ceremony took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and was hosted by tennis champion Serena Williams, a close friend of the Duchess of Sussex, who attended to support her husband. During her monologue, Williams playfully remarked, “Please Harry and Meghan, try not to breathe too much tonight, because this is my night, and I don’t want to be overshadowed by the accusations that you guys are taking up too much oxygen.”

According to ESPN, Harry was recognized for his “tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community through the power of sport.” The Invictus Games have transcended borders and impacted lives across every continent, making a global difference.

In his speech, Harry reflected on the current global landscape, stating, “While so much progress has been made since those first games, the world outside seems to be in an even more precarious state. We live in an age marked by polarization and division. Conflicts rage around the globe. Anger and resentment towards those who are different seem to pervade societies everywhere.”

He went on to highlight the unifying force of the Invictus Games, saying, “Our community challenges that. Our community proves that unity is not just possible, but formidable. The beauty of the Invictus Games lies in how it brings people together, no matter one’s nationality, background, or personal struggles. It is a collective, built from courage and mutual respect, where athletes discover time and time again the common denominator of their humanity.”

Harry, who served two frontline tours in Afghanistan and spent a decade in the British armed forces, spoke of the family that the athletes of the Invictus Games form, saying, “Having survived the crucible of armed combat, and forged through the challenge to rebuild bodies and minds impacted by conflict, they form a family. They exemplify the very best in all of us.”

Earlier this year, Harry traveled to the UK for a special event at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. Despite his dedicated service, he was stripped of his military patronages by his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 2021, a year after he stepped down as a senior working royal.

During the ceremony, Harry emphasized that he stood not as Prince Harry, but as a “voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation.” He humbly noted, “This award belongs to them, not to me. That said, it is of great importance to me to highlight these allies, athletes, and their amazing families for their achievements, their spirit, and their courage at every opportunity, especially on nights like this, in front of people like you.”

Harry concluded his speech with a promise on behalf of the foundation, stating, “No matter the road ahead, we are here for you, we will leave no one behind.”

Past recipients of the Pat Tillman Award for Service include Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, who led a high-profile campaign to ensure free meals for vulnerable children in England during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Other honorees of the night included Dawn Staley and Steve Gleason. Staley, an Olympic gold-medal winner and University of South Carolina women’s basketball head coach, received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance for her on-court resilience, support for women’s sports and equality, and her campaigning for cancer research. Gleason, a former NFL player diagnosed with ALS, received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage for his work in setting up Team Gleason charity and successfully lobbying for the Steve Gleason Act, ensuring access to speech generation communication technology in the U.S.

Source: Associated Press, ESPN