Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the 2024 ESPY Awards, where the Duke of Sussex received the Pat Tillman Award For Service.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle were all smiles as they attended the 2024 ESPY Awards on Thursday night, when the Duke of Sussex accepted the prestigious Pat Tillman Award For Service.
Harry, 39, and Markle, 42, were seated in the front row at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theater for ESPN’s 32nd annual ceremony, which honors individual and team athletic achievements. During the event, Harry, who served in the British army for 10 years, was recognized for his work with the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded service men and women that he founded in 2014.
Prior to the ESPYs, Harry had faced backlash after he was named the recipient of the award named in honor of Tillman, a fallen soldier and promising NFL player. However, the prince was met with cheers, applause and a standing ovation as he took the stage to accept the accolade.
«I’d like to begin or express my deepest gratitude to everyone at the Pat Tillman Foundation led by Marie Tillman Shenton, who I am so honored is here tonight», Harry began his speech as the camera panned to Shenton, Tillman’s widow.
He continued, «I’d also like to acknowledge the Tillman family, especially Mrs. Mary Tillman, Pat’s mother. Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect. The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses.»
«The truth is, I stand here not as Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award recipient, but rather a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel from over 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality. This award belongs to them, not to me», Harry said.
«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. Moments like these help us reach those that need Invictus most and reduce more than 20 veterans a day taking their own lives in this country alone.
