Prince Harry's 'stunned' reaction to backlash over his 'sporting Oscars' gong that honours American war hero shows how 'remote and out-of-touch' he has become as he faces a losing PR battle in the US, royal expert warns

Prince Harry should person known that trousering different subject grant successful nan US would origin a backlash and his determination to return it will make it progressively difficult for him to prime up akin gongs successful nan future, experts told MailOnline today.

The Duke of Sussex is said to beryllium 'stunned' by nan anger complete his Pat Tillman Award for Service - including from Mr Tillman's ain mother - but his astonishment shows he is now surviving successful 'different world', 1 professional has claimed.

A petition urging ESPN to artifact Prince Harry receiving nan grant has reached 68,000 signatures successful conscionable 2 weeks.

Harry and Meghan's biographer Tom Bower has said nan vitriol complete handing nan exiled British royal nan gong shows location is expanding 'antagonism' towards nan Duke of Sussex and his woman Meghan crossed nan Atlantic.

And seasoned royal master Phil Dampier said: 'It’s ironic that nan point which really kept Prince Harry’s feet connected nan crushed and successful touch pinch reality was his subject service. The truth he is stunned by that shows really distant and retired of touch he has become’.

Harry, 39, is owed to beryllium honoured pinch nan Pat Tillman Award for Service for his Invictus Games activity astatine nan glitzy ESPY Awards successful Los Angeles connected July 11. The 2024 ESPYS will beryllium hosted by Serena Williams - a adjacent friend of Meghan Markle.

The Duke is reportedly 'stunned' by nan backlash. But Pat’s mother Mary Tillman has said that she was ne'er consulted and personification pinch little 'privilege' should person sewage it, pinch immoderate claiming her involution should unit Harry to garbage it.

Mr Bower said nan backlash complete nan Pat Tillman Award is yet much impervious that nan Sussexes are losing nan PR conflict successful nan US - astatine a clip erstwhile nan mates are desperately trying to relaunch their individual marque successful America.

'The backlash will make it much difficult for Harry's squad to get awards successful nan future', he said.

'Prince Harry inhabits a gilded bubble seemingly unaware astir nan heavy antagonism he and his woman person created. It's go normal for his unit to lobby for important awards to statement up his reputation'.

Tillman, an American shot prima who gave up a £3million statement to enlist successful nan US Army aft 9/11, had his life tragically trim short astatine nan property of 27 erstwhile he was killed successful friends occurrence while serving successful Afghanistan 20 years ago.

But Pat's mother Mary has said that she was ne'er consulted and personification pinch little 'privilege' should person sewage it.

Royal master Phil Dampier told MailOnline: 'During his years successful nan army, his clip successful Afghanistan and mounting up nan Invictus Games he recovered nan comradeship and consciousness of intent which meant he could subordinate to his friends and chap servicemen connected their level.

'He was conscionable different worker and not a Prince.

'Unfortunately successful nan past 5 aliases six years he has entered a different world, a mendacious world of showbiz premieres, easy money and distorted media interviews and he has mislaid his communal touch.

'He should person realised, aliases surely his PR group should person realised, that this grant would look retired of spot and annoy immoderate veterans and their families, and location would beryllium a backlash.

'He needs to study from this acquisition and return banal and deliberation overmuch deeper successful early astir what baubles and prizes he accepts.

‘It’s easy to blasted Meghan for keeping him distant from his aged friends and contacts but yet it’s down to him.

'He needs to gain them, not conscionable person them served up truthful that he tin move successful definite circles and consciousness bully astir himself'.

ESPN, location of nan NFL, has defended giving Harry nan award, but 1 of nan network's starring analysts, Pat McAfee said his ain web was 'trying to p**s group off' for honouring nan Duke of Sussex.

“It’s going to Prince Harry,” McAfee said connected his podcast. 'Who I don’t moreover deliberation is simply a Prince anymore, right? He said don’t telephone maine that? See, why does nan ESPYs do this s**t?

Harry won a Living Legend of Aviation Award astatine an sparkling bash successful Beverley Hills successful January, wherever he was inducted alongside Apollo 11 leader Buzz Aldrin.

In April, Prince Harry wore his British subject medals connected his thorax arsenic he presented Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks, a friend from nan Invictus movement, pinch nan US Soldier of nan Year Award.

Tillman, an American shot prima who gave up a £3million statement to enlist successful nan US Army aft 9/11, had his life tragically trim short astatine nan property of 27 erstwhile he was killed successful friends occurrence while serving successful Afghanistan 20 years ago.

His mother Mary, who said she was not consulted astir Prince Harry being fixed nan grant base her son's name, told nan Mail past week: 'I americium shocked arsenic to why they would prime specified a arguable and divisive individual to person nan award.

'There are recipients that are acold much fitting. There are individuals moving successful nan seasoned organization that are doing tremendous things to assistance veterans.

'These individuals do not person nan money, resources, connections aliases privilege that Prince Harry has. I consciousness that those types of individuals should beryllium recognised.'

The ESPY Awards (Excellence successful Sports Performance Yearly) is tally by nan sports TV web ESPN and nan Pat Tillman Award has antecedently been fixed to unsung heroes.

Last twelvemonth it went to members of nan Buffalo Bills American shot squad training unit who revived a dying subordinate connected nan field.

ESPN said Harry was being honoured for his 'tireless activity successful making a affirmative effect for nan seasoned organization done nan powerfulness of sport' pinch his Invictus Games.

But nan determination to honour him has led to a backlash.

Sources told The Telegraph that it is simply a 'bitter pill to swallow' erstwhile nan Duke of Sussex is criticised astir thing relating to his subject grounds and activity pinch veterans.

'Harry's bequest connected Invictus, nan things he has achieved, that's his existent passion,' they said. 'This is nan abstraction successful which he genuinely feels astatine home, it is thing he profoundly cares about. The guidance surely took nan radiance disconnected nan award.'

The root acknowledged that it was akin to erstwhile Harry, who completed 2 tours of Afghanistan arsenic an Apache chopper aviator was recognised arsenic a Living Legend of Aviation astatine a star-studded ceremonial successful Beverly Hills, California, successful January.

As he joined nan likes of astronauts Buzz Aldrin, James Lovell and Tim Peak successful picking up nan prestigious award, Admiral Lord West, erstwhile caput of nan Royal Navy, brutally said: 'He is not a surviving legend'.

The latest backlash began almost consecutive aft ESPN announced connected June 27 that Harry would beryllium given nan Pat Tillman Award for Service.

A petition to impulse ESPN to reassess its determination boasted almost 68,000 signatures successful 10 days.

It said: 'Pat Tillman exemplified duty, honour, and sacrifice.'

 'He gave up his successful NFL profession to service his state aft nan 9/11 attacks, and tragically mislaid his life during his service. Awarding this honour to personification who does not bespeak nan award's intent diminishes its worth and disrespects Tillman's memory.'

 Former NFL subordinate Pat McAfee besides waded in, saying: 'We should observe sports. The worldwide leaders should observe athletics but doing thing for illustration this is evidently trying to p*** group off.'

 He said they should create a caller class conscionable for nan duke. 'How astir it's for illustration ESPY for Royal Family personnel who doesn't want to beryllium called 'Royal Family member' who loves sports?'

Jake Wood, a erstwhile Pat Tillman Award winner, later defended Prince Harry connected TMZ Live, saying: 'He's a royal prince, there's 100 different things he could person done pinch his life aft his work successful nan British Armed Forces but he's chosen to dedicate a large information of his post-military life to helping veterans.' 

Pat Tillman was hailed successful nan US aft giving up his lucrative profession pinch nan Arizona Cardinals to enlist arsenic an Army Ranger.

He served successful Iraq and past Afghanistan, wherever he was killed by friends occurrence successful 2004. He was awarded nan Silver Star and Purple Heart for bravery.

A spokesperson for ESPN antecedently said: 'ESPN, pinch nan support of nan Tillman Foundation, is honouring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, specifically for nan activity of The Invictus Games Foundation arsenic it celebrates its 10th twelvemonth promoting treatment done nan powerfulness of athletics for subject work members and veterans astir nan world.

'While we understand not everyone will work together pinch each honourees selected for immoderate award, The Invictus Games Foundation does unthinkable activity and ESPN believes this is simply a origin worthy celebrating.'

Archewell has been contacted for comment.