Royal Family Insider Surprised by Prince Harry’s ESPY Decision

A former royal family insider revealed he anticipated Prince Harry would decline the Pat Tillman Award for Service. However, Harry ultimately accepted it to “stand up for what he believes in.”

The Duke of Sussex received the award Thursday night at the 2024 ESPY Awards. The announcement of his selection had sparked controversy, including surprise and criticism from Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman. She expressed her dismay in June, stating, “I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award.”

There had been speculation Prince Harry might turn down the award amid the controversy, a move that would not have surprised Grant Harrold, a former royal family butler.

“I thought he was going to decline it because that’s just his nature,” Harrold told the New York Post. “But maybe Harry has got to a point where he’s just decided he’s going to do what he wants. Because of his military background and the Invictus Games, it’s something he feels really passionate about.

“He’s accepting the award on behalf of military personnel, so in a weird way, he probably sees it as his duty to accept it.”

ESPN’s Pat McAfee had also criticized the decision to honor Prince Harry, claiming the network was “trying to piss people off.” Despite the controversy, there was speculation about the reception Prince Harry would receive at the ESPYs. Contrary to expectations of a lukewarm reception, he received a warm welcome and delivered an emotional speech in which he paid tribute to Mary Tillman.

Harrold stated the award demonstrated that “people appreciate what (Prince Harry) does with the Invictus Games, and it also shows people respect him for what he has done in his military career, which I think is also important.”

The award honors the late Pat Tillman, the former Arizona Cardinals defensive back who left the NFL to enlist in the U.S. Army following 9/11. He was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2004.

Source: New York Post