Prince Harry took a bold step despite feeling ‘quite sad’ about the massive backlash, proving his point to critics.
The Duke of Sussex, named the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPYs, accepted the honour on Thursday during a star-studded ceremony.
Former royal butler Grant Harrold told The Post that Harry accepted the award to “stand up for what he believes in.”
“I thought he was going to decline it because that’s just his nature,” explained Harrold, who has known the royal personally. “But maybe Harry has reached a point where he’s decided he’s going to do what he wants.”
Harrold added that Harry’s military background and passion for the Invictus Games made it essential for him to accept the honour despite the backlash.
“He’s accepting the award on behalf of military personnel, so in a way, he probably sees it as his duty to accept it,” Harrold continued. “That’s why I think he’s done it, and maybe he’s decided to ignore the people who are trying to be negative about it.”
Last month, Pat Tillman’s mother told the Daily Mail that she was “shocked” and felt there were “far more fitting” recipients for the award than the “controversial and divisive” Prince Harry.
