Prince Harry's Powerful Speech At ESPYs Wins Over Many After Backlash: 'He Is Worthy Of This Award'

An emotional Prince Harry dedicated his Pat Tillman Award to his Invictus Games athletes.

The Duke of Sussex attended Thursday night's ESPYs to receive the award despite facing backlash from many who felt he was undeserving of the honor.

It was previously reported that he was stunned by the negative attention the announcement received in the media and even considered declining the award.

However, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry's moving speech at the award ceremony has been met with applause from royal fans.

At the 2024 ESPYs, Prince Harry became the seventh individual to be honored with the Pat Tillman Award. This prestigious honor recognizes individuals who, like the late NFL player and soldier Pat Tillman, dedicated themselves to service and positively impacting the world.

Harry was awarded for his Invictus Games competition and his military service, including two tours in Afghanistan.

On Thursday, the duke gave a very emotional speech, humbly dedicating the award to those who have made his international multi-sport event possible.

"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," Harry told the attendees. "This award belongs to them, not to me."

Harry also addressed Pat Tillman's mother, who criticized his selection for the award, during his speech.

He said, "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," he added, alluding to the sad loss of his late mother, Princess Diana.

The duke's speech seemed to touch the hearts of many, including some who had reservations about him receiving the Pat Tillman Award for Service.

Over on X (formerly Twitter), a viral tweet highlighted how impactful the prince's words were in his speech and why Harry was "worthy" of the prestigious award.

Robert Griffin III, a former quarterback, wrote: "Prince Harry's acceptance speech for the Patt Tillman Award for Service is worth 5 min of your time. There is no doubt that he is worthy of this award and no doubt that what he is doing is changing lives for the better."

"At first, I didn't like the fact that he was getting this award. That was a great speech! It's very inspiring. He is a good, honest man who grew up in a very chaotic environment. I'm glad he received it now. I didn't know he was involved in the Invictus games. Great stuff," a second person stated.

Another account wrote, "I agree this is a well-deserved award. As the founder and patron of the Invictus Games, Prince Harry embodies the unconquered spirit of the Invictus family on their shared journey."

"If you didn't watch Prince Harry last night for the Pat Tillman Award, please Google it today! Impressive and heartwarming. We need more people in the world who have the same compassion for others as Prince Harry does!" a fourth person noted.

Prior to the award ceremony, Prince Harry faced intense backlash following ESPN's announcement that he was the next recipient.

Some of the public outcry came from Tillman's mother, Mary, who said she was "shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award."

She also claimed that they were "recipients that are far more fitting" and that ESPN should have picked a recipient "who's never been in the spotlight."

Meanwhile, ESPN Analyst Pat McAfee claimed it was the "most embarrassing thing I've seen in my entire life."

In response to the negative traction, ESPN issued a statement defending its decision to honor Harry. They claimed Harry's Invictus Games Foundation has helped promote "healing through the power of sport for military service members and veterans around the world.

The outlet added, "While we understand not everyone will agree with all honorees selected for any award, The Invictus Games Foundation does incredible work, and ESPN believes this is a cause worth celebrating."

The duke, who is no stranger to scrutiny, was stunned by the backlash. He reportedly considered declining the prestigious honor to avoid upsetting anyone.

"He'd never want to cause any upset," former royal butler Grant Harrold told the New York Post. "If he thinks that it is going to cause upset, then it is quite likely that he could decline the award ..because he'd never want to cause any upset, and it would affect him hearing about the backlash."

With Harry eventually appearing to accept the award, it's clear that he chose to face the backlash head-on.

Fortunately, his wife, Meghan Markle, was by his side, offering her support. Additionally, Invictus athletes Marine Sgt. Kirstie Ennis, Army Sgt. Elizabeth Marks, and US Air Force Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro Jr. were also present, cheering him on.

Earlier in the year, Harry was inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation Hall of Fame at the 21st Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards event in Beverly Hills.

The duke was honored for being a "humanitarian, mental wellness advocate, and environmentalist" due to his work with African Parks, Travalyst, WellChild, and The Archewell Foundation.

At the time, he also received backlash after the announcement, with many, including the former head of the Royal Navy, Lord Alan West, expressing their disappointment with the organizers.