Royal fans claim Venus Williams snubbed Prince Harry at ESPYs after she failed to join standing ovation and didn't clap when Duke was called on stage to collect his award

Fans person gone chaotic complete a video allegedly showing Prince Harry being snubbed by Venus Williams astatine nan ESPYs.

Royal watchers took to X, to declare nan tennis legend, 44 - who is nan sister to Meghan Markle's good friend Serena Williams - grounded to guidelines up aliases clap for nan royal erstwhile he received a Pat Tillman Award astatine nan glitzy Los Angeles ceremony connected Thursday night.

The Duke of Sussex accepted nan grant - which is named after Pat Tillman, an NFL subordinate who gave up his lucrative profession to enlist successful nan service pursuing 9/11 - despite calls from Pat's mother and different veterans to cull it.

In a video shared by ESPN connected YouTube; Harry tin beryllium seen moving up to nan shape to cod his award, but while his woman and overmuch of nan crowd stood to applaud nan prince, Venus remained seated and was not seen clapping.

Later connected successful nan clip, nan sporting icon - who was precocious honoured pinch her own Barbie doll - was seen opinionated up adjacent to Meghan arsenic Harry gave his speech. 

But royal fans opportunity Venus nevertheless 'shaded' Harry, while others person accused her of giving nan mates awesome 'side eye'.

Taking to X, 1 personification wrote: 'Are they still b*** wounded that Venus and that full beforehand statement shaded Harry… nan video was moreover crystal clear'.

Another said: 'Loved seeing Venus giving Harry and Megsie nan "side eye"….no opinionated ovation aliases clapping'. 

A 3rd personification pointed retired that possibly Venus, for illustration galore others, besides protested nan Duke's award: 'If Venus didn’t work together pinch Harry getting nan grant that was her correct not to clap'.

Someone other added: 'Harry must consciousness nan disgust emanating from Venus'. 

Meanwhile 1 personification said it was Harry and Meghan who alternatively did nan 'ghosting': 'Anyone mentioned really H and M purposefully ne'er acknowledged Venus sitting to Harry's nonstop right? They were some ghosting her'.

Meghan has enjoyed a agelong relationship pinch Venus' sister Serena, who attended her wedding to Prince Harry successful May 2018. 

The brace first met astatine a ace vessel statement successful 2010, and again successful 2014. 

According to Meghan connected her defunct blog The Tig, nan brace 'hit it disconnected immediately'.

According to Mark Hodgkinson successful Serena: A Graphic Biography of nan Greatest Tennis Champion, nan women's relationship quickly evolved done predominant telephone calls and texts.

After becoming Prince Harry's woman and past a Duchess, Markle leaned connected Serena for mentoring connected really to grip nan paparazzi and nan world media.

Serena advised her to 'stop being truthful nice', according to nan author.

And erstwhile Meghan learned she was pregnant soon aft Serena's small woman was born, Serena offered her parenting advice.

In 2021, Williams revealed: 'We person known each different for a agelong time, but we really are relying connected each different a batch recently.'

She added that watching Meghan wed Prince Harry successful May 2018 was peculiarly special.

However, it doesn't look that Meghan aliases Harry person immoderate connections pinch Venus - beyond their relationship pinch Serena.  

During his speech, nan prince highlighted nan value of 'unity' and touched connected nan 'eternal bond' betwixt mother and boy - a motion to Mary Tillman and his ain mum Princess Diana. 

The profoundly moving reside seemed to person caught Venus's attraction arsenic cameras showed her listening intently and looking somewhat captivated.

Additionally a short clip shared by Access Hollywood shows Prince Harry and Venus sitting together arsenic they look to bask an informal chat.

The 2 past awesome and activity to each different earlier Harry joins his woman to shake hands different guests. Meghan flashed a speedy grin astatine Venus earlier tending to nan invitees.

The mates endured different awkward infinitesimal erstwhile Meghan's friend of much than 10 years and nan ESPY's host Serena Williams, poked nosy astatine nan mates by saying nan veterans’ grant was fresh for 'actual royalty'.

Harry was fixed a opinionated ovation by his woman - who stunned successful a spectacular backless achromatic Oscar de la Renta gown - arsenic he accepted nan Pat Tillman Award contempt nan fallen soldier's mother declaring nan royal is excessively 'privileged' and different soldiers were much deserving. 

Before he collected nan award, big Serena made nan Sussexes giggle astatine a bid of jokes astatine their disbursal - and her own.

Serena, who attended nan Sussexes' royal wedding, said: 'It's beautiful often that I get to beryllium successful a room pinch existent royalty, and coming is nary exception', adding pinch a smile: 'Prince Harry and Meghan are here. Let's springiness it up for them'.

She continued: 'But please, Harry and Meghan, effort not to respire excessively overmuch tonight.

'Because this is my night, and I don't want to beryllium overshadowed by nan accusations that you guys are taking up excessively overmuch oxygen, okay?'

The camera past trim to Meghan and Harry, who laughed successful nan beforehand row.

Minutes later nan Duke of Sussex was handed nan Pat Tillman Award and said of nan 'eternal bond' betwixt mother and boy - a motion to Mary Tillman and Princess Diana

Harry has faced calls to cull nan grant because it has typically gone to unsung veterans. More than 76,000 group signed a petition demanding nan determination was reversed.

And Mary Tillman told nan Mail past period that she was 'shocked' it would spell to 'such a arguable and divisive figure', adding: 'There are recipients that are acold much fitting. These individuals do not person nan money, resources, connections aliases privilege that Prince Harry has'.

But past nighttime astatine nan glitzy ESPY Awards Harry extended an oliva branch to Mr Tillman's mother.

Meghan beamed pinch pridefulness arsenic Harry said of his 'respect' for really she was preserving her son's bravery and memory, arsenic he besides applauded nan sacrifice of wounded veterans and praised nan Invictus Games successful his triumph speech.

'Her defense for Pat’s bequest is profoundly individual and 1 that I respect,' he said. 'The enslaved betwixt a mother and boy is eternal and transcends moreover nan top losses.'

Harry brushed disconnected calls for him to move down nan prize from critics including nan erstwhile caput of Britain's Royal Navy Lord West, who warned nan royal risked nan wrath of subject veterans.

The Pat Tillman Award is named aft nan iconic NFL subordinate and precocious US Army Ranger who gave up his lucrative sporting profession to enlist successful nan service successful nan aftermath of 9/11 earlier his decease successful Afghanistan successful 2004 owed to friends fire.

Prince Harry accepted nan prestigious subject honour, and he utilized his clip connected shape to salary tribute to wounded veterans.

As he accepted nan grant from 3 erstwhile winners, Harry - who served 2 tours successful Afghanistan - noted nan struggles that subject unit look aft they return from duty.

Although immoderate condemned nan prime of Prince Harry for nan award, ESPN defended it and cited his domiciled successful mounting up nan Invictus Games - which he mentioned arsenic he dedicated nan grant to 'the full work community'.

'Tonight, we observe treatment done sport,' he said, ending nan reside by addressing veterans astir nan world, telling them: 'We will time off nary 1 behind.'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined different grant nominees including Patrick Mahomes and Caitlin Clark astatine nan glitzy ESPN arena connected Thursday evening, hosted by tennis fable Serena Williams.

He began his acceptance reside by expressing his 'deepest gratitude to everyone astatine nan Pat Tillman Foundation' including nan ex-NFL player's widow Marie Tillman Shenton who was among those attending.

He past made his remarks addressing Mary Tillman, earlier adding: 'I guidelines present not arsenic Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award recipient, but alternatively a sound connected behalf of nan Invictus Games Foundation and nan thousands of veterans and work unit from complete 20 nations who person made nan Invictus Games a reality.

'This grant belongs to them, not to me'.

He besides said of nan inspiration Invictus Games competitors provided amid what he called 'an property of polarisation and division'.

The Duke said: 'While truthful overmuch advancement has been made since those first Invictus Games, nan world extracurricular seems to beryllium successful an moreover much precarious state.

'Conflicts rage astir nan globe - anger and resentment towards those who are different look to pervade societies everywhere.

'Our organization challenges that - our organization proves that unity is not conscionable imaginable but formidable.

'The beauty of nan Invictus Games lies successful really it brings group together nary matter one's nationality, inheritance aliases individual struggles.

'It is simply a collective, built from courageousness and communal respect - wherever athletes observe clip and clip again nan communal denominator of their humanity.

'Having survived nan crucible of equipped combat and forged done nan situation to rebuild bodies and minds impacted by conflict, they shape a family. They exemplify nan very champion successful each of us'.