Prince Harry has been praised for his heartfelt acknowledgment of Pat Tillman's mother, Mary Tillman, during his speech at the 2024 ESPY Awards.
The Duke of Sussex received the Pat Tillman Award for Service on July 11, despite facing backlash for being seen as underserving of this notable honor. In his acceptance speech, Harry paid tribute to the "Tillman family, especially Mary Tillman, Pat’s mother - her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect."
Harry added, "The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses."
Royal expert Gareth Russell analyzed Harry's speech on GB News, noting that it was well received by the public. "Many people tend to think that it was handled in quite a respectful way," Russell said.
Despite some believing Harry should have declined the award after Mary Tillman called him undeserving, Russell explained that the speech sparked a broader debate about whether the award was for Harry as an individual or for the Invictus Games and their impact.
"Broadly, but not universally, people thought he alluded to her criticism in the most tactful way he could," Russell concluded.
