Prince Harry receives Pat Tillman Service Award at 2024 ESPY Awards

Prince Harry received the Pat Tillman Service Award at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The Duke of Sussex received the award in recognition of his work with the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style competition he founded for wounded servicemen and women.

“I am not here as Prince Harry, the Pat Tillman Award recipient, but rather as the spokesperson for the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service members from over 20 countries who have made the Invictus Games a reality,” Harry said. “This award belongs to them, not to me.”

“That said, it’s so important to me to recognize these extraordinary allies, athletes and families for their accomplishments, spirit and courage at every opportunity. Especially on nights like this, in front of people like you,” he continued. “Moments like these help us reach those who need Invictus most and reduce the number of more than 20 veterans who die by suicide every day in this country alone.”

Harry then shared what’s in store for Invictus this year.

“We are celebrating ten years of change and healing through sport,” he said. “While much progress has been made since those first Games, the outside world seems to be in an even more precarious situation. We live in a time of polarization and division. Conflicts rage around the world, anger and resentment towards those who are different seem to pervade societies around the world.”

“Our community is challenging that,” he added. “Our community is proving that unity is not only possible, it’s awesome. The beauty of the Invictus Games is how it brings people together. No matter what nationality, background or personal struggles they have.”

“It is a collective built on courage and mutual respect, where athletes discover again and again the common denominator of their humanity,” he said.

Ahead of the ESPY Awards, ESPN, which broadcasts the ESPYs, said Harry was among those honored for his work using his platform to “change the world and make it more inclusive for marginalized and suffering communities, demonstrating incredible resilience, positivity and perseverance.”

Harry, who served in the British Army for 10 years, organised the first Invictus Games in London in 2014. The Games have since been held in Orlando, Toronto, Sydney, Düsseldorf and The Hague.

During his decade of military service, which ended in 2015, Harry was promoted to the rank of Apache helicopter commander. Known as Captain Harry Wales in the Army, he deployed to Afghanistan twice, from 2007 to 2008 and again from 2012 to 2013.

In 2012, the British Ministry of Defence named Harry the best front seat pilot, or co-pilot gunner, among his class of more than 20 other Apache helicopter pilots.

Before taking the stage, Harry was honored by past Pat Tillman Award recipients Sergeant Kirstie Ennis, Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks and Sergeant Israel Del Toro.

He asked them to stay on stage with him as he accepted his award and thanked the Tillman family, especially Pat Tillman’s mother, for the honor.

“Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and I respect it,” Harry said. “The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest loss.”

The 2024 ESPYs, which honor the best athletes and sports personalities, were hosted by tennis legend Serena Williams, who is known to be a friend of Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

The couple were seen in the audience applauding after Ciara’s electrifying performance at the start of the show.

Williams also sent a congratulatory message to the couple on stage during her opening monologue, joking: “But please, Harry and Meghan, try not to breathe too much tonight. Because it’s my night. And I don’t want to be overshadowed by accusations that you’re consuming too much oxygen.”

Williams attended the couple’s wedding in 2018 and reportedly co-hosted a baby shower for Meghan in New York in 2019.

Meghan supported Williams on court, traveling from London to New York in 2019 to watch Williams play in the US Open final.

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