A prestigious new award win for Prince Harry is an "excellent opportunity for positive publicity," which he should capitalize on as he and wife, Meghan Markle, continue to build their personal brand in America, an entertainment expert has told Newsweek.
On Thursday, it was announced that Harry has been named the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPN ESPY Awards [Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award]. It honors his support for the global veteran community through his Invictus Games sports tournament, as well as his own military service.
The award is named in honor of former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger, Pat Tillman, who died during a tour of Afghanistan in 2004, having been inspired to enlist in the military following the September 11 attacks.
The prince will receive the award on July 11 during the Los Angeles ceremony hosted by friend and former pro-tennis player Serena Williams. Also being honored on the night are former football player and sports safety advocate Steve Gleason, and basketball coach Dawn Staley.
This is the second high-profile award Harry will accept in 2024, having been inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation cohort at a black-tie event in January. Newsweek approached representatives of Prince Harry via email for comment.
"Prince Harry being awarded the ESPY Pat Tillman Award is indeed significant, and enforces the work that the Duke Of Sussex has carried out extensively over the years, and in particular, it highlights his ongoing contributions to the Invictus Games," Mark Boardman, entertainment expert and founder of MarkMeets, told Newsweek of the development.
"This award recognition for Prince Harry is not only a testament to his dedication to supporting veterans but also an excellent opportunity for positive publicity and to showcase his work in front of peers and specially invited guests across a genre of media."
Harry's work with the Invictus Games has won him widespread praise since he cofounded the tournament in 2014. The Games provide wounded, sick or injured veterans with an international platform to demonstrate their mental and physical rehabilitation through sport.
The next games will take place in Canada in 2025, incorporating for the first time winter sports into the roster of events.
"Whilst it's not the Oscars in terms of its global profile," Boardman said, "the ESPYs are highly regarded and blend entertainment with recognition of exceptional achievements, so this award aligns well with Prince Harry's ongoing public persona."
Since their split from the monarchy in 2020, stepping down as working royals, Harry and Meghan have embarked on new careers straddling the worlds of entertainment and philanthropy.
After their popularity nose-dived in the U.S. and U.K. in 2023, following the release of the couple's Netflix show and the prince's memoir, positive appearances like awards shows and events could help them regain support among the wider public.
"It's certainly a strong piece of PR that he should certainly capitalize on," Boardman said of Harry's ESPY win. "It underscores his commitment to meaningful causes and provides a platform for him to further promote the Invictus Games."
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you.
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About the writer
James Crawford-Smith is a Newsweek Royal Reporter, based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on the British royal family ... Read more
