Prince Harry 'stunned' by backlash to his ESPY nomination for 'the Pat Tilman Award for Service' after Afghanistan veteran's own mother said she would have preferred for it to go to someone 'less privileged'

Prince Harry was 'stunned' by nan backlash he faced aft being nominated for an grant named aft an American warfare leader killed successful Afghanistan, sources person claimed.

The Duke of Sussex, 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.

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 fixed the  Pat Tillman Award for Service.

A petition to impulse ESPN to reasses 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.